Andy Warhol

Glossary

Abstract Expressionism Post-war, mostly New York-based artistic movement, that produced large, non-figurative, gestural, spiritually complex paintings. Artists include Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning.

Agitprop Literally a political strategy involving techniques of agitation and propaganda to influence public opinion. Originally used by the Marxist theorist Plekhano and then by Lenin.

Brechtian alienation German playwright Bertolt Brecht (1898–1956) employed what he called the Verfretndungseffekt, usually translated as ‘alienation effect’ but more correcdy it means something that is ‘made strange’, i.e. a way of presenting things on stage in a non-naturalistic way to enable us to see them with fresh eyes.

Conceptual art Art that is more concerned with ideas than with representation. Its appeal is therefore intellectual rather than visual. Artists include Joseph Beuys, Christo, Yoko Ono.

Cubism A short-lived artistic movement that reduced physical forms to cubes, spheres and cylinders. It also contended that objects were best depicted by simultaneously showing them from multiple viewpoints. Artists include Picasso and Braque.

Dadaism A largely nihilistic artistic movement which believed in the subversion of traditional art and culture. Artists include Tristan Tzara and Marcel Duchamp.

Diptych A painting made on two joined but detachable panels.

Exploding Plastic Inevitable A multi-media event and environment involving rock bands, dance, and the projection of slides and film.

Factory Warhol’s studio and workshop.

Faux naif Someone or something that has the appearance of naivety but in reality is very knowing and sophisticated.

Green Stamps Stamps that were given out with purchases in shops and supermarkets in the 1960^s as a kind of bonus system. Stamps were stuck into books and redeemed against consumer items.

High Bohemia Term used to describe Warhol’s working and social environment, which included movie stars, fashion designers, various heiresses and members of the European aristocracy.

ICA The Institute of Contemporary Arts, a London gallery that has championed cutting edge, avant-garde art, since the middle of the twentieth century.

Idiot savant Term used to describe individuals who display little obvious intelligence but are able to perform formidable mental or artistic tasks.

Impressionism The late nineteenth-century movement that marks the beginning of modern art, employing exuberant colour and vigorous brush strokes, often giving a sketchy ‘unfinished’ appearance. Generally concentrated on contemporary and vernacular subject matter. Artists include Monet, Manet, Cezanne, Degas.

Minimalism A movement that strips art down to its elemental forms, relieving it of subjective or personal expression. Artists include Donald Judd and Carl Andre.

Pop Art A twentieth-century art movement that takes its images from consumerism, the mass media and popular culture, and simultaneously subverts and celebrates them.

Surrealism A post-Freudian artistic and literary movement involving the unrestrained exploration and expression of the unconscious and subconscious mind. Artists include Dali, Ernst, Magritte.

Underground film movement Term used to describe a loose association of 1960^s American experimental filmmakers. The films were anti-Hollywood and anti-mainstream, and took much of their inspiration from the 1960^s obsession with sex, drugs and rock and roll.