What is Art

Banksy's Artwork

 

Why was it produced?

To create controversy in society and in art, to explain Banksy’s personal opinions on society in a picture form.

Do you think the artists thought of it as “art”?

Many people see Banksy’s art as disruptive and as unacceptable. Artists probably view Banksy’s work as a joke, rather than serious artwork.

 

What is your opinion of it?

I like Banksy’s artwork as I think it shows true opinion rather than conforming to the norms of society and creating artwork in the same way that everyone expects artists to do.


What is art?

ART has not always been what we think it is today. An object regarded as Art today may not have been perceived as such when it was first made, nor was the person who made it necessarily regarded as an artist. Both the notion of "art" and the idea of the "artist" are relatively modern terms.

Many of the objects we identify as art today -- Greek painted pottery, medieval manuscript illuminations, and so on -- were made in times and places when people had no concept of "art" as we understand the term. These objects may have been appreciated in various ways and often admired, but not as "art" in the current sense.

ART lacks a satisfactory definition. It is easier to describe it as the way something is done -- "the use of skill and imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects, environments, or experiences that can be shared with others" - rather than what it is.

How could the artistic qualities of a controversial work of art such as the installation above or a

winning entry for the Turner Prize be explained to someone who doubted its artistic merits?

(17 marks)

You cannot define art as any one thing - it is simply someone's feelings or opinions expressed in almost any form. Everyone has the right to create an art of their choice in which ever form they choose, whether that be a painting, to music, to a film. One person cannot define art no matter how logical their answer may be - as the appreciation of different artworks depends on the person. Different people interpret art in different ways - for example, Banksy's artwork to one person may be pure vandalism on public property, but to another, could be inspiring and appreciated greatly, if they share the same views on society, or even if they don't.

The Leveson Inquiry

This is the official site of the Leveson Inquiry. It aims to provide the latest information on the Inquiry, including details of hearings and evidence, to the public and interested parties.

Background

The Prime Minister announced a two-part inquiry investigating the role of the press and police in the phone-hacking scandal, on 13 July 2011. Lord Justice Leveson was appointed as Chairman of the Inquiry.
Part 1 of the Inquiry examined the culture, practices and ethics of the press and, in particular, the relationship of the press with the public, police and politicians. Lord Justice Leveson was assisted by a panel of six independent assessors with expertise in the key issues that were considered.
Lord Justice Leveson opened the hearings on 14 November 2011, saying: “The press provides an essential check on all aspects of public life. That is why any failure within the media affects all of us. At the heart of this Inquiry, therefore, may be one simple question: who guards the guardians?”  A wide range of witnesses, including newspaper reporters, management, proprietors, police officers and politicians of all parties, all gave evidence to the Inquiry under oath and in public.
Lord Justice Leveson published his Report on Part 1 of the Inquiry on 29 November 2012.
Part 2 of the Inquiry cannot commence until the current police investigations and any subsequent criminal proceedings have been completed.

Censorship

•      CENSORSHIP: the suppression, alteration or deletion of material which may be considered objectionable, harmful or sensitive.

•      DEFAMATION: anything that damages a person’s reputation in the eyes of society.

•      LIBEL: publishing a false statement that damages a person’s reputation (written defamation)

•      SLANDER: making a false verbal statement that damages a person’s reputation (verbal defamation)

GOVERNMENT CENSORSHIP: (formal) Used by Governments to withhold information from citizens. Often used during wartime to protect soldiers/public.

•      Used by the Department for Information during WW2. At one point the British Government considered taking over the BBC directly to control output

•     
Do you think Government’s should be requesting to have information removed or allow the internet to have complete freedom of speech?
I think they should be allowed to request for information to be removed because certain issues may disregard people’s human rights. Informal censorship is used, operating through independent regulatory bodies such as the PCC (Press Complaints Commission), Ofcom (Office of Communications) and the BBFC (British Board of Film Classification).

Do you think there should be informal censorship of TV? Should there be certain things that should/should not be said at certain times of the day?

•      I think that they should stick to how the current censorship works because if there was no censorship then at certain hours of the day, children may watch inappropriate things which can lead to negative values of life.

AUTHORITARIAN CENSORSHIP: positions of power are used to limit access to information. Media owners and editors can exercise this type of censorship.

•      SELF CENSORSHIP: individuals decide for they the information they will receive e.g. you turn the telly over because you don’t want to watch something you find offensive.

•     
Arguments for:

1.  To protect the security of the state

2.  To prevent children from being exposed to violence

3.  To protect people from being corrupted by overt sexuality

4.  To protect individual privacy

•     
Arguments against:

1.  People need accurate information in order to make choices

2.  Freedom of speech is a fundamental right

3.  It has not been proved that media material may corrupt or deprave

4.  Access to the internet has made censorship ineffective

WHAT PROBLEMS CAN YOU THINK OF WHEN IT COMES TO BLOGGING? DISCUSS!

Blogging allows freedom of speech on the internet however; this can criticise or target certain groups in society regarding social issues such as bullying and racism. Therefore there should be a limitation on blogging so that there is no risk of offence on the public audience.

My Political Compass

Then and Now - Problems in Society

The 1930’s saw much social distress and it was made worse as a result of World War II.
Sir William Beveridge in his report highlighted 5 main problems.

1.Idleness was seen as a big problem because unemployment had been high.

2.Many diseases were life threatening since healthcare was only good if you were wealthy.

3.Squalor - Housing was inadequate and poor conditions such as slum areas.

4.Poverty was rife, the elderly suffered as their state pension was barely sufficient (Want)

5.People had little education and the school leaving age was 14 (Ignorance)

 

1.What is the Welfare State?

A welfare state is a "concept of government in which the state plays a key role in the
protection and promotion of the economic and social well-being of its citizens. It is based on
the principles of equality of opportunity, equitable distribution of wealth, and public
responsibility for those unable to avail themselves of the minimal provisions for a good life.
The general term may cover a variety of forms of economic and social organization."

2.When was it created

1945

 

3.Explain the concept “from cradle to the grave”

It proposed that all working people should pay a weekly contribution to the state. In return, benefits would be paid to the unemployed, the sick, the retired and the widowed. Beveridge wanted to ensure that there was an acceptable minimum standard of living in Britain below which nobody fell.

 

4.When was the NHS created?

1944

 

Types of Welfare Provision:

State Provision

The Informal Sector

The Voluntary Sector

The Private Sector

 

 Work and Welfare

1.Do you think Welfare should always be provided by the State?

Yes, because I think everyone deserves the same quality of life, and people who are at a disadvantage due to sickness or unemployment should not fall under the line of poverty.

 

2.Which of the four ‘providers’ of Welfare do you think may provide the best provision?

 

3.Do you think the creation of the Welfare State has been a force for good?

In some ways yes, although I think the Welfare State can be unfair to some. If you're unemployed and make no effort to get a job, for no good reason, then I believe you're being unfair to the Welfare State and the benefits that it brings to people.

 

Transport

}In the UK (1945) commuting was unknown and people worked near their homes.

 

1.Why do you think it is different now?

To help with World problems such as pollution - many people carried by a bus will cause less pollution than each of those people driving their cars to wherever they wish to be. However as cars were introduced before hand, this has had a negative impact on the environment.

 

2.How have transport capabilities changed?

 

3.What effect has this had on the population?

We are now able to live where we like and still commute to almost anywhere in the world, at reasonable prices and in reasonable time.

 

4.Are we now ‘better off’?

As individuals, yes. But as a planet, with problems of pollution, not as much.

Why do values change?

Economic circumstances influence the development of values. Pressure groups and the media can encourage change. They seek to persuade society and government to modify existing values, often by changing the law.
Examples of changing values are...

• Acceptance of alternatives to marriage
• Attitudes to abortion and divorce
• Employment opportunities for married women
• Equal opportunities (race and gender)
• Using medical knowledge to aid human life

Cultural Values

Cultural values - where do they come from?

• Cultural values and their sources are very personal and individual.
• They are created from our history and traditions.