Land Art As A Form Of Cultural Criticism

Patrick Tunney

Student number: N00144576

2st Year Visual Art Practice

Examine the Notion of Land Art as a form of Cultural Criticism?

Tutor: Tom Duffy

When we think of culture we sometimes think of someone as being cultured or of high culture. For someone to be cultured they must be an eclectic reader, watch classic movies or have an appreciation for the arts. They must be educated about the world, its languages and history. But most importantly they must have in interest in culture and engage with it. But this is not culture. Culture is the defining characteristic and knowledge of a group of people no matter how big or small, defined by everything from language, religion, food, habits, music and art. It is shared patterns of behavior and interaction, learning by socialization and developing together. It is not to define a hierarchy such as high or low culture.

Cultural criticism is to oppose these very things. Not just the class division of high culture but also the day-to-day norms of popular culture. Cultural Critics are just as likely to write about the new Star Wars movie then a performance of Shakespeare’s Hamlet in The Globe.

Land Art, Earthworks or Earth Art was an art movement coined by Robert Smithson in American in the nineteen sixty’s and early seventies. It brought together the landscape and works of art, where the art is made in nature using natural materials. Transforming the landscape into a work of art itself. Land art is