Contact Us
Carrie Patterson, Chair
Associate Professor of Art
Phone: 240-895-4252
Email: ccpatterson@smcm.edu
Office Staff: 240-895-4225
Alumni Where are they now?
Matthew Fishel (studio art, 2001) completed an MFA at Maryland Institute College of Art in 2010. Originally interested in painting, Matthew has expanded his practice to include animation, video, installation, and digital imaging. He is a frequent contributor to RedStarKGB, an ongoing collaboration of filmmakers in Baltimore. His own film, "A Short Film Regarding Possibilities", was selected by the Maryland Film Festival in 2006. See his work at http://www.matthewfishel.com
Famous Images on Pop Culture Items
Abstract: The process by which imagery becomes incorporated into the public's general consciousness is a phenomenon that intrigues me as an art historian. Images become so much a part of daily life that they are incorporated into objects that are used in daily life. Images that were once revered for their unique qualities of design and innovation are replicated onto everything from the typical poster print to a night-light. The question is whether or not the images loose something in the transition. This process, which I have analyzed both anthropologically and art historically, creates images where the original is no longer of consequence. Not to say that the original does not retain some dignity in the world of museums and originals, however, it is to say that the original is no longer necessary for people to understand and recognize the image. The appropriation of images has become commonplace in the world and the commoditization of images from the art world into popular culture is no longer a rare occurrence. In order for images to become a part of the general social conscience, they must go through the process of becoming more than just paintings on the wall; the images have to incorporate themselves into popular culture.
