Greg Feb. 20: From Disneyland to Installation art

For Greg's class on Feb. 20, we'll be discussing installation art from "Pirates of the Caribbean" to Christoph Buchel. Watch the video above, read the essays below and consider the following questions in your written response: What makes great immersive installation art? What are some ways that "Pirates of the Caribbean" as well as Christoph Buchel, Randy Regier and Shary Boyle use symbols and stories to create mood and meaning? How do they connect to history or current events or cultural mythology? What are the advantages or disadvantages of being immersed in the experience? What are lessons we can take from this sort of installation art and apply to painting, photography, sculpture, performance, etc. Is there a difference in quality or meaning between what Disneyland achieves and what "fine art" installations do? Did Disneyland invent installation art in America? Can you identify earlier examples? Better earlier examples? What makes them better?

= Christoph Buchel's abandoned "Training Ground for Democracy," from 2008 court decision.

= "Fire in the Night: The Pre-Eminent Attraction-as-Art" from Passport to Dreams, Aug. 21, 2011.

= Randy Regier's "Dime Star" from The New England Journal of Aesthetic Research, May 11, 2011.

= "Shary Boyle, beloved in Canada's art world, doesn't think she needs to leave the country to achieve international acclaim" by Mark Medley, National Post, Sept. 11, 2010. (More images here.)

Remember:  Our discussion group won't be meeting for a full discussion on Feb. 13. It will be a studio work day instead. But your preliminary list of exhibits that you are considering for your Research Paper is due on Feb. 13.

Also: Feb. 18 is Presidents Day, so there will be no classes that day.