Tuesday, 26 March 2013

DD1000 - art movement: symbolism

ORIGINAL POST DATE: OCTOBER 9TH 2012
The Symbolism movement began as a protest to literal representation of subjects in the more mainstream art. The people who heralded this movement preferred the suggestion and interpretation of an image, rather than a straightforward face-value image. Its roots were in literature, where poets believed that ideas and emotions could be portrayed not just through the literal meaning, but the thought behind it. The movement began in France, but stretched as far Austria, Britain, and Norway.
Symbolist painters all had varying styles, yet they all share the same fascination with subtlety and the mystical. Otherwise uncouth subjects were a source of fascination for Symbolists, too; erotica and the perverse, as well as death. Sex and death are the crux of what unnerves and disturbs humankind the most, so it is no wonder that they were fascinated by those themes.
I enjoy Symbolism because I have never felt that any piece of art, no matter the medium, should ever be taken at face value. It is always far too enjoyable to infer one’s own views to make sense of an unusual situation. I have never found that literal imagery is more exciting. Something outside of the norm, even if it is a mere hint at something being very much amiss, is very deeply exciting. Subtext in any medium is always very important, and I personally love to pick apart the symbolism for any number of videogames or musical artists.

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