Art21 - Art in the 21st Century Season 1 Episode 4 Consumption

"Art21 - Art in the 21st Century" is an Emmy-winning documentary series that showcases contemporary visual artists and their creative processes. In season 1 episode 4, titled "Consumption," the series explores the ways in which artists engage with and reflect on the consumer culture of our time.

The episode features three artists who address issues related to consumption in their work. The first artist, Matthew Barney, is known for his elaborate and fantastic film installations. He discusses his film "The Cremaster Cycle," which explores themes of gender, myth, and consumerism. Barney's use of luxury brands such as BMW and Harry Winston in his work raises questions about how consumer culture shapes our ideas of identity and desire.

The second artist featured in the episode is Barbara Kruger, a renowned conceptual artist known for her use of provocative text and images in installations, posters, and magazines. Kruger's work often critiques the messages and values promoted by mass media and advertising. In "Consumption," she discusses her use of advertising slogans and stock photography to create thought-provoking works that challenge viewers to question their own assumptions and beliefs.

The final artist featured in the episode is Michael Ray Charles, a painter who uses vintage advertising imagery to comment on race, power, and consumer culture. Charles appropriates and alters vintage advertising images to expose the underlying racial messages and stereotypes that have been used to sell products for decades. His provocative works ask viewers to consider the impact of advertising on our understanding of race and identity.

Throughout the episode, the artists discuss their creative processes and the ideas that inform their work. They reflect on the role of art in a consumer culture, and how art can challenge and subvert the values and messages promoted by advertising and mass media. The episode also includes interviews with art critics, curators, and other experts who offer insights into the cultural and social implications of these artists' work.

Overall, "Consumption" offers a thought-provoking and engaging exploration of the ways in which contemporary artists are addressing one of the defining features of our time: consumer culture. The episode challenges viewers to consider their own relationship to consumption and to question the messages and values that are being promoted by mass media and advertising. Through the work of these three talented artists, "Consumption" offers a powerful commentary on the impact of consumer culture on our society and our understanding of ourselves.