Lesson video

Hello everyone.

How are you doing today? Hope you're feeling good.

My name's Ms. (Indistinct), and I'll be your art teacher for today.

I'm feeling excited about that, because today we are looking at icons.

Our lesson is called "Iconic Images from Art Movements", and it comes from the unit of work art movements.

We're gonna be looking at icons.

What is an icon? What does it mean to be an icon? Do you know any icons? Are there any icons that you are into that you particularly admire? And we'll be looking at icons within art, iconic images within art movements.

Are you ready? Have you got some enthusiasm, some curiosity? I hope so.

Then let's begin.

The outcome for today's lesson is, I can create a subverted interpretation of an iconic image.

Sounds pretty interesting.

I hope you'll agree.

We have some keywords in our lesson today.

Let's go through them.

Iconic and subvert.

Iconic is something that is widely recognised, and represents a particular idea or thing, often because it is very famous or significant.

Subvert means to challenge or undermine recognised systems, norms, or authorities.

I wonder if you've come across either of these keywords before.

Iconic or subvert.

They will be coming up in our lesson today, so you'll be finding out more about them.

Our lesson is called "Iconic Images from Art Movements".

It has three learning cycles.

First of all, iconic images.

Next, we'll be getting into becoming iconic, and then we'll be looking at addressing the imbalance.

So let's begin with exploring, what are iconic images? There's the question, what are iconic images? Pause the video, share with somebody.

What do you think this means? Okay, so I wonder what ideas you came up with.

Let's hear some responses.

"I think an iconic image is an image of a famous person, as that is what an icon means." "Yes, and also perhaps symbols of things that we see in everyday life." I wonder if these were similar or different to your responses.

If something is iconic, it is related to an important image or symbol.

So let's look at a word "iconic".

Let's break it down.

So icon means image or symbol, and the "ic" bit at the end means about or related to.

So that's what iconic is.

It's something that's related to an important image or symbol.

Iconic.

In art, when an image is iconic, it represents a particular idea or thing, and can be easily and quickly recognised, related to a particular time period or event, understood, regardless of language barrier.

Here's some questions from Izzy.

Have you seen any iconic images? And what makes them iconic to you? So pause the video and share with someone.

What are some iconic images that you've seen, and why are they iconic? What makes them iconic to you? Pause the video while you share about this.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

I'm gonna share with you one of mine.

So it's, an image that is iconic for me is an image of a singer, Grace Jones.

She also used to be a model, and she's a singer performer, and some of her album covers are iconic, and there's one in which she has a really short haircut, and she's wearing a suit jacket, and she looks incredibly cool.

Grace Jones is definitely an icon, and the artwork on her album covers is definitely iconic.

I hope you enjoyed sharing your ideas about what images are iconic, and why they are iconic to you.

Let's have a check for understanding.

What is an image that represents a particular idea or thing called? Is it A, famous, B obscure, C, iconic, or D, mundane? Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected C, iconic.

An image that represents a particular idea or thing is called iconic.

What is this? Take a look at the image on your screen.

What is this an image of? Pause the video and share with someone.

I'm sure you've guessed the answer.

Let's check in with Izzy all the same.

It's the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the capital city of France.

Yes, indeed.

There is the Eiffel Tower.

An absolute icon of a building.

The Eiffel Tower is an iconic landmark.

Evidence of its iconic nature, even when turned into a graphic symbol, it is still easily and quickly recognisable, and can be understood regardless of language barriers.

Check for understanding.

Complete the sentence.

An iconic image is often easily and quickly, fill in the blank.

So pause the video and complete this sentence.

Yep, you got it.

The missing word was recognisable.

An iconic image is often easily and quickly recognisable.

And now it's time for your first task.

I would like you to look at some images that you think are iconic, and consider why these images are memorable and important.

You could choose images of art, history, sports, entertainment, like my Grace Jones album cover, nature or landmarks.

So pause here and share with someone what are some images that you think are iconic, and consider why these images are memorable and important.

Pause the video while you do this.

All right, great to be back with you.

So how did you get on researching images that you think are iconic, and considering why these images are memorable and important? You might have said, an example from art, the "Mona Lisa", Leonardo Di Vinci's famous portrait, known for its enigmatic smile.

The Statue of Liberty, a symbol of freedom and democracy in the United States.

The Eiffel Tower, an iconic landmark in Paris, France, the first moon landing in 1966.

It represents the achievement of the first human moon landing by Apollo 11.

I hope you enjoyed sharing the images that you think are iconic and why they're memorable and important.

And now we're moving on to our next learning cycle, becoming iconic.

So where do iconic images come from and how do they become iconic? Pause the video and share with someone your ideas.

Thanks for sharing.

Let's hear some more responses.

"I think they come from famous paintings that are hanging in galleries and museums." Another idea, "I agree as then lots of people would see them and they would sell copies in the gallery shop." Do you think an iconic image carries the same meaning for all of us? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Let's explore this a little bit more.

Iconic images in art often come from art movements in Western art history.

Western art history focuses on continental Europe and North America, and is focused mainly on male artists.

Art historians have documented these artworks widely, and therefore, they have become famous and iconic.

Check for understanding.

What area of art history do iconic images often come from? A, indigenous art history, B, Western art history, C, middle Eastern art history, or D, pre-Colombian art history.

Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected B, Western art history.

Indeed, iconic images often come from Western art history.

Iconic images from Western art history include Leonardo da Vinci's, "The Last Supper", Johannes Vermeer's, "The Girl with a Pearl Earring", and Vincent van Gogh's "Starry Night".

What do you notice about all three of these artists? Pause the video and share with someone.

I wonder if you noticed anything about the time period when these artists were making their art.

The Italian artist, Leonardo da Vinci, 1452 to 1519 was part of the Renaissance movement, and created the mural "The Last Supper".

It depicts an important point in Christianity when Jesus introduced the sharing of bread and wine to his disciples, and announced that one of them would betray him.

One of the reasons it has become iconic is because of Da Vinci's innovative use of perspective and composition.

So he was doing something quite special when he created this work.

"The Girl with the Pearl Earring" was painted by the Dutch artist, Johannes Vermeer, and it is an iconic portrait of a young girl wearing an exotic dress, and a large Pearl earring.

Hence the title.

There are many reasons why it has become an iconic image, including its mysterious expression, symbolic pearl, and Vermeer's, innovative use of light and colour.

Hmm, there's that word, "innovative" again.

Its influence has been far reaching with contemporary artists such as Banksy creating versions of it, and a well known novel and film being made about it.

The Dutch artist, Vincent Van Gogh, was part of the Post-Impressionist movement, and created the painting "The Starry Night" in 1889.

It shows a night sky full of swirling stars over a quiet village, with a large glowing moon, and rolling hills in the background.

The swelling sky and bright colours were, yes, you've guessed it! Innovative and unique.

So people recognised it instantly, making it an iconic image.

Check for understanding.

What is one reason why "The Last Supper", "The Girl with a Pearl Earring", and "The Starry Night" are iconic images? A, 'cause they use conventional techniques, B, traditional techniques, C, innovative techniques, or D, classical techniques.

Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected innovative techniques.

Indeed, each of these three artworks were created using innovative techniques.

It's important to remember that Western art history only accounts for an area of the world, so only covers a part of the story of art.

It also focuses mainly on recording male artists.

This could be because women artists were often not included in art history books, and have been forgotten over time.

Sadly, that is I think true, Jun.

A question for you.

Why is focusing on one area of the world problematic when thinking of how images become iconic in art? What do you think? Pause the video and share with someone.

Thanks for sharing your answers.

I wonder if they were similar to these ones.

Here's Alex.

"It means that not all communities and marginalised groups are represented in books or galleries, which makes it difficult for them to become iconic." Great point, and Izzy.

"This means that our diverse world is often not reflected in the art or images that we are presented with." Very true.

Another question for you.

What could be problematic if iconic works are mainly created by male artists? Pause the video and share.

Let's hear from Jun and Laura.

"It excludes all of those women artists who created great works of art, such as Plautilla Nelli, who painted 'The Last Supper' in 1568.

She was able to live independently, and earn her living as an artist." And Laura.

"Yes, also, Artemesia Gentileschi painted 'Judith Beheading Holofernes' in around 1620, and showed the Judith as muscular and strong, which was unusual." Great points.

Check for understanding, true or false.

Iconic images from Western art history reflect the diversity of our world.

Pause the video and share if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected false.

And now, could you say a little bit more about your answer? Perhaps you said something like this.

"If iconic images only come from Western art history, it means that not all communities and marginalised groups are represented." What is the name of the artwork that Plautilla Nelli painted in 1568? Was it A, "The Birth of Venus", B, "The Last Supper", C, the "Vitruvian Man", or D, the "Mona Lisa"? Pause the video while you decide.

Well done if you selected "The Last Supper".

It's time for your next task.

I would like you to research an iconic artwork from Western art history and consider in your sketchbooks the artist, their gender and cultural heritage, the date of the artwork, and what part of Western art history they originate from, why it has become iconic, consider where it's been displayed, and if it has been reproduced.

You could enlarge and interpret a section of the artwork, enlarge and copy a section of the artwork, find different reproductions of the artwork, and include them.

So pause here while you research an iconic artwork from Western art history, and consider a little more about the artist, the date of the artwork, and why it has become iconic.

See you when you're finished.

All right, great to be back with you.

How did you get on with your task? You may have presented the image in your book, and made some written notes from your research.

And now we are onto our final learning cycle, addressing the imbalance.

How can we address this imbalance of where iconic images come from? Pause the video and share with someone.

Here's one idea.

Perhaps if we were to raise the profile of underrepresented groups and art movements.

Yes, please love that idea.

Another one.

There could be more artworks from these groups in galleries, museums, and social media.

Absolutely, amazing ideas.

Increasing the visibility of artworks from underrepresented groups can make iconic images more diverse in origin, and raise awareness around representation.

This can be done through increasing the representation of marginalised groups in galleries and museums, and through subverting existing iconic images from Western art history.

The word "subvert" comes from the Latin "subvertere", meaning to overturn or overthrow.

So "sub" means under, or below, think of the word "submarine", under the sea, and "vertere" means "to turn".

It's to turn something over.

In art, artists can subvert iconic images from Western art by changing and altering them.

Check for understanding.

Complete the sentence.

In art, artists can.

Iconic images from Western art by changing and altering them.

Pause the video while you complete the sentence.

Well done if you completed the sentence with the word "subvert".

In art, artists can subvert iconic images from Western art by changing and altering them.

Artists that have subverted iconic historical images include Harmonia Rosales, reimagined iconic imagery of God as a Black woman.

Shasta Schatz and Omar Victor Diop recreate paintings of Black people in art history through photography, questioning what images are included in history.

Mickalene Thomas gives Black women a presence in iconic paintings such as Edouard Manet's, "Le Dejeuner sur l'herbe".

Leonardo da Vinci's "The Last Supper" is an iconic image that has been appropriated and subverted by many artists.

Tavares Strachan in 2024, Zeng Fanzhi, 2002, Susan Dorothea White, 1988, Mary Beth Edelson, 1972, Phaneendra Nath Chaturvedi in 2018, Lorna Mae Wadsworth, 2009, and Chris Ofili, 1999 to 2002.

Tavares Strachan is a Bahamian artist who subverted Da Vinci's original artwork in his sculpture, "The First Supper (Galaxy Black)", 2023.

Strachan replaces Jesus and his disciples from the original painting with prominent Black figures from history who have made significant contributions, such as the United States' first Black Congresswoman, Shirley Chisholm, and the gospel singer, sister Rosetta Tharpe.

In doing so, he highlights the importance of representation, and brings visibility to forgotten Black figures in history.

True or false? By subverting Da Vinci's "The Last Supper", Strachan brings visibility to forgotten Black figures in history.

Pause the video and decide if this is true or false.

Well done if you selected true.

I'd like you to say a little bit more about your answer now.

Pause the video while you do this.

Maybe you said something like this.

Strachan highlights the importance of representation by replacing Jesus and his disciples with prominent Black figures.

Chris Ofili is a British artist who created "The Upper Room", 1999 to 2002.

This artwork subverts and challenges traditional religious and cultural histories.

Ofili added his famous use of elephant dung as part of the artwork, which references a trip he made to Zimbabwe, and shifts the focus from a Westernised lens.

What message do you think Ofili was trying to convey in this work? Asked Alex.

Pause the video and share.

Thanks for sharing your ideas.

Check for understanding.

What did Chris Ofili use in his work, "The Upper Room", which references a trip he made to Zimbabwe? Pause the video and share with someone.

You've got it.

Elephant dung.

Australian artist, Susan Dorothea White, 1941, subverts DaVinci's painting in her version of "The Last Supper", 1988.

She replaces the disciples with women from diverse cultures and communities that are part of Australian society.

Jesus is replaced with an Australian First Nations woman wearing a T-shirt with the Aboriginal Land Rights flag on it, making visible the historical and ongoing struggles for Aboriginal land rights and equality.

And we can see the Aboriginal Land Rights flag.

Check for understanding.

What is on the T-shirt of the woman who replaces Jesus in White's "The Last Supper"? Pause the video while you share with someone.

Hopefully you got this answer, the Aboriginal Land Rights flag.

And now it's time for your final task.

I would like you to create a subverted interpretation of Da Vinci's "Last Supper".

First of all, choose 13 people who are significant to you.

They could be historical or contemporary figures, or people personally known to you, such as your classmates.

Discuss how your choices subvert traditional ideas.

You could draw from memory or pictures, use photography, find images on the internet, and collage your different figures.

You may have chosen your classmates, or friends and family.

So pause the video while you have a go at creating your own subverted interpretation of Da Vinci's "Last Supper".

So how did you get on? Here's Izzy.

"I took a photograph of my friends around the table.

I made the youngest person sit at the head of the table, giving him a sense of power.

I traced this onto paper so I could get their outlines." Love that idea, Izzy.

Next part of your task, arrange your chosen people in a composition which reflects your feelings about them, considering who you will place in a position of Jesus in Da Vinci's painting.

You could use their silhouette and use coloured paint to express feelings, use their silhouette, and use collage (indistinct) patterns and shape, find images on the internet, and collage your different figures.

You may have chosen your classmates or friends and family.

So pause the video while you have a go at this part of your task.

Okay, how did you get on with arranging your chosen people in a composition that reflects your feelings about them? Here's Izzy.

"I used my friends around the table.

I made the youngest person sit at the head of the table, giving him a sense of power, and used colours that represent a heritage of my family, inspired by Susan Dorothea White." Love that, Izzy.

"I tried using different textures, but I think the simpler images are more powerful." Great reflection there, and I hope you enjoyed your task, creating your own subverted interpretation of Da Vinci's "The Last Supper".

In our lesson, iconic images from art movements, we've covered the following.

When an image is iconic, it represents a particular idea or thing, and can be easily and quickly recognised.

Iconic images, mainly coming from Western art, can mean that our diverse world is often not reflected.

Contemporary artists are addressing this imbalance by increasing the visibility of marginalised groups, often by subverting traditional iconic images.

Well done everyone for joining in with this lesson.

It was great to explore icons with you, iconic images, and subverting iconic images.

I look forward to seeing you at another art lesson soon.

Until then, stay creative.