I need ideas for a piece of artwork to write about. [more inside]
posted by smeater44 on Oct 12, 2009 - 20 answers

Four years ago, I asked if there was a way to get Eduardo Paolozzi's short film The History of Nothing on DVD, but there wasn't an obvious answer. I was wondering if things have changed. [more inside]
posted by eschatfische on Sep 1, 2009 - 2 answers

What should I name my new project? (hint: it involves hair and significant historical figures). [more inside]
posted by Jezztek on Aug 3, 2009 - 27 answers

I seem to remember reading somewhere, or possibly listening to a story on NPR, which talked about Norman Rockwell being a subversive artist. The tone was of a researcher having talked to his contemporaries and concluding that Rockwell was in a way being ironic or sarcastic in his paintings. I also vaguely remember hearing/reading that there were small clues in some of his paintings indicating this. Any help finding more information on this? [more inside]
posted by efalk on Dec 25, 2008 - 8 answers

Looking for recommendations on films (documentary or dramatic) or books (nonficiton or novel) about Agitprop or Agitprop Theater, specifically as it was practiced in Boshevist Russia/USSR. [more inside]
posted by brain cloud on Nov 15, 2008 - 1 answer

Creative Ideas Filter: I need ideas of Famous and Memorable Photographs or Paintingsor famous and memorable scenes from History, Movies, or Television that can be Reenacted on the spot without planning by 3-6 people for me to photograph for a final project for school. [more inside]
posted by Del Far on Apr 14, 2008 - 18 answers

I am looking for writings on the infinity of definition. [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Mar 13, 2008 - 32 answers

How is the meaning of art and artefacts being altered by the methods we use to: Experience, Define and Preserve them... In other words, in what ways have technologies been used to experience, re-define and/or preserve art and artifacts? [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Feb 5, 2008 - 12 answers

Are there any reverse-chronological histories of culture? [more inside]
posted by electric water kettle on Dec 18, 2007 - 3 answers

Help me think of a suitable question for an essay on Mantegna's prints. [more inside]
posted by trashcan on Jul 5, 2007 - 3 answers

Three 19th century art works that I'm having trouble finding the Artist Name and Title for each. The large one is Renoir (actual signature), but I can not find the title of the work. The other two I have no idea. (large picture scan of all 3, small file size)
posted by Ateo Fiel on Dec 2, 2006 - 9 answers

'The Flâneur': What fascinating titbits can you add to my knowledge about this concept? Art, history, philosophy and literary theory links all welcome. [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Oct 25, 2006 - 22 answers

A longshot, but hoping. Can anyone identify this statue? [more inside]
posted by BackwardsCity on Jul 27, 2006 - 15 answers

I'm on the hunt for sites and/or blogs about big ideas... Who wants to join me? [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Jul 9, 2006 - 17 answers

The Protagonist: What can you tell me? [more inside]
posted by 0bvious on Jun 8, 2006 - 17 answers

I'm having trouble tracking down information about a movement in Dada-ist Art I heard about a few years ago. From what I remember Dadaist idealism inspired a group of artists to contemplate the organic development of urban environments. Art, using the defined structure of the city, to reflect the chaotic order which arises from nature. Did this century old movement exist or has my brain made it up?
posted by 0bvious on Apr 26, 2006 - 10 answers

Is it illegal, where applicable, to own a work of art or an artifact of history if it is also an item of drug paraphernalia? [more inside]
posted by yesster on Feb 7, 2006 - 17 answers

Calling all historians: a question inspired by this photo, found through this FPP. What is the significance of the Napoleonic hand-inside-of-shirt pose? [more inside]
posted by Cuke on May 20, 2005 - 15 answers

I've got some Chinese paintings from my late grandfather, and I'm having trouble finding more information about them. Here's what he had to say about them (image, transcript inside) and here's a scan I made of one of them (image). I don't know enough about this subject to make educated guesses, and the information from my grandfather is either inaccurate or just a dead-end. So basically, I'd like to know anything that you know about this. I'd be happy to scan more of the prints as well if someone needs additional information. [more inside]
posted by j.edwards on Apr 19, 2005 - 6 answers

Anyone know of any good books, plays, or other material about Suzanne Le Peletier de Saint-Fargeau, a.k.a. "Mademoiselle Nation"? She was an eleven-year-old girl adopted by the French revolutionaries after her father's murder by a royalist. Her portrait by Jacques-Louis David is currently on display at the Getty in Los Angeles, and as the book blog Romancing the Tome says the story of her life would make for excellent reading. Surely she's found her way into print by now?
posted by Asparagirl on Mar 18, 2005 - 3 answers

I am looking for either books or online resources for Bayeux Tapestry - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayeux_Tapestry - style illustrations (or any other book/site that depicts depict medieval life.) So far, the illustrations on the web are of relatively small size or poor quality.
posted by turbanhead on Dec 10, 2004 - 4 answers

I want to learn as much as I can about life in fin-de-siècle Belgium as I can, particularly from primary sources, art, music, and literature. What would you all recommend?
posted by Sticherbeast on Dec 3, 2004 - 6 answers

A few weeks I had to listen to a drunken guy drone on about hip-hop. There was one thing he said that caught my interest. He mentioned that there were tracks based on Robert Johnson samples. So what are the tracks and who does them?
posted by rdr on Aug 19, 2004 - 5 answers

In trance/techno music, where does the following pattern come from: A major bass hit on the first beat of the measure, then doubling to the first and third beat a couple measures later, then every beat, then eighth notes, sixteenth notes - usually accompanied by a melodic glissando climbing octaves or a vocal loop stuttering - until it releases (usually to a short pause) and then plunges into the full bass loop (and usually the chorus). Where'd this come from? What/who was the first song or DJ to use it?
posted by ao4047 on Jan 8, 2004 - 3 answers