Supermarket Shopper by Duane Hanson
What makes Duane Hanson’s sculpture Supermarket Shopper a masterpiece?
– Desolation of spirit and a TV dinner to match
– A typical American moment stands apart
– Destroying a controversial past
Laocoon by El Greco
What’s the story behind El Greco’s painting Laocoon?
– A Spanish Trojan War
– The vengeance of Laocoon’s broken vow
– 300 years ahead of his time
De Style by Kerry James Marshall
Why is Kerry James Marshall’s painting De Style so perfect for this moment?
– Where South Central LA meets the 1917 Netherlands
– Barbershop as cultural oasis
– Whimsy and gravity unite on canvas
Untitled (Man Smoking/Malcolm X) – Carrie Mae Weems
What makes Untitled (Man Smoking/Malcolm X) by Carrie Mae Weems a masterpiece?
– Malcolm X in a supporting role
– Where Black America meets the globe
– Arm wrestling, poker, and booze
Untitled Film Still 35 – Cindy Sherman
Why does Cindy Sherman’s photograph Untitled Film Still 35 looks so familiar?
– Soft core porn set the rules
– Stereotypes beware Cindy Sherman’s face
– Setting the stage for ankles in Untitled Film Still 35
80 Backs by Magdalena Abakanowicz
What’s the significance of the Magdalena Abakanowicz sculpture 80 Backs?
– Sacred space
– Different figures – all with the same form
– 80 Backs and zero heads