Participants look at a picture of Just What is It that Makes Today’s Homes So Different, So Appealing? by Richard Hamilton and use it as the basis for a tour about appropriation.  Participants discuss the idea of appropriation, how it fits into modern and contemporary art, and why artists do it. This activity could be used in the Walker Art Center galleries, Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, or in the classroom with a selection of images from Art Collector. The artworks included in the activity are suggestions only and instructors may choose different artworks to accompany the discussion questions. This activity comes from the Popular Culture/Visual Culture section of the Tour Guide Tool Kit.

Popular Culture/Visual Culture Activity Title: Introduction to Appropriation Theme: Sources and Resources Age: Grades 9–Adult Overview: Participants look at a picture of Just What is It that Makes Today’s Homes So Different, So Appealing? by Richard Hamilton and use it as the basis for a tour about appropriation.  Participants discuss the idea of appropriation, how it fits into modern and contemporary art, and why artists do it. This activity could be used in the Walker Art Center galleries, Minneapolis Sculpture Garden, or in the classroom with a selection of images from Art Collector. The artworks included in the activity are suggestions only and instructors may choose different artworks to accompany the discussion questions. Procedure: Setting the Scene Show a large photo of Richard Hamilton’s Just What is It that Makes Today’s Homes So Different, So Appealing? Ask the group to identify recognizable images or objects in the picture. As participants answer, write down on a pad or flip chart the items they identify from contemporary visual culture (such as TV, magazines, advertising, product packaging, film, billboards, consumer products). Paraphrase the responses back to the group. Ask them how they think the artist created the image, and discuss the idea of collage and found images. Summarize by talking about the idea of appropriation or borrowing in art, and how Richard Hamilton appropriated images from popular culture into this work. Ask Why do you think artists would use existing images in their work? Address the idea of context, and how artists often change the original context of what they borrow. Begin Looking This tour focuses on ways that artists have used appropriated images and objects in their work. These images could be photographs, everyday objects or images, images from television or film, advertising, work by other artists, historical archives, and others. Ask participants to think about this idea as they explore the galleries, and make sure to focus on this idea at each artwork. Include works of art that use or reuse recognizable images or objects. Ask Do you see anything recognizable here? What are some possible reasons that the artist incorporated the recognizable object or image? Has the artist changed the original? How? Some artists borrow the work of other artists for their own work. What was appropriated here? Why might artists incorporate images from the media in their work? Do all artists have the same reason for using appropriation in their work? What is the message or meaning of the original? Is the message of the artwork different? Would you call this artwork original? Why or why not?Is originality important in art? Talk about some of the reasons that artists borrow for their work, including visual appeal, the meaning of the original, and material: Contemporary artists work with borrowed elements to explore, exploit, expose, expand, celebrate, revise, challenge, and critique the original. The presence of the familiar in a work of art can also help viewers connect with or understand the piece. By placing images from popular culture in a new context, artists can also use appropriation to blur boundaries between fine art and popular culture. Another idea to discuss is the ethical or legal issues that can occasionally surround art that includes borrowed images. Ask: How do the works we viewed fit into the category of fair use?     Conclusion The next time you walk through a museum, become a detective. As you look at works of art, think about whether you are looking at a completely original image or something that the artist may have reused, recycled, or reimagined. Props: Large photograph of Richard Hamilton’s Just What is It that Makes Today’s Homes So Different, So Appealing? 1956 Pen and pad of paper or flip chart Other original appropriated images seen in works on the tour    Tips: For this tour, show a variety of works that incorporate recognizable objects or images. Sherrie Levine, Andy Warhol, and Richard Prince are examples of suitable artists.