Murals speak louder than words : Nelson Rockefeller - Diego Rivera clash and making of the US art culturre during the 1930's
Author(s)
Advisor
Date
2013Publisher
Bilkent University
Language
English
Type
ThesisItem Usage Stats
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Abstract
This study examines part of the US art culture, more specifically the transformation
it underwent during the 1930’s through the case study, Nelson Rockefeller-Diego
Rivera clash. This clash has such an importance in the US history as it triggered the
questions of function in art in the US. The study mainly argues that by triggering
these questions, Rockefeller-Rivera clash and Rivera himself contributed to the
change in the perception of art work in the US during New Deal. They contributed to
the emergence of federal programs which not only offered work relief for the
unemployed artists but also motivated the poverty-stricken American nation and
iv
injected a “cultural nationalism” as the Historian Harris states1
. More and more
examples of artwork began to address social issues and went against the notion of
“art for art’s sake.” The clash was also instrumental in organizing American painters
and depicting them the advantage of federal funding over patronage.
This research also demonstrates the culturally symbiotic relation between the
US and Mexican cultures during 1933 through art.
Conclusively, it brings a new approach to Rivera-Rockefeller clash, which
was regarded to be a morbid phenomenon. The contribution of the clash to the
change in the perception of American art, which ended up turning into “actionable”
art during the New Deal, was remarkable. This type of art reached out more
American people and became democratized to some extent.
Keywords
Diego Rivera - Nelson Rockefeller clashMexican art
US art
new deal art
mural painting
Federal Art Project
1930's