Focused Discussion (Asynchronous)
Re-envisioning Visionary Art: Using a Jungian Perspective in Developing Appreciation View Digital Media
Focused Discussion Lisa Hester
The term ‘visionary’ has been used as an adjective to describe several prophetic, genius, and spiritual artworks yet the term is not sufficiently defined in art term glossaries or on mainstream platforms. This exclusion is a curious omission and needs addressing. The term is applied to artists such as Leonardo de Vinci, Hilma af Klint, Francisco Goya and more recently, Alex Grey. On the surface, these artists have truly little in common, so why is this term used to describe their unique and challenging creations? My research considers how useful a Jungian oriented framework is in developing an appreciation of Visionary Art. I establish that there is currently a deficient understanding of the topic within Critical Art Theory. This opinion is based on researching relevant material and investigating the lack of presence of the genre on mainstream platforms. In response to the inconsistent definitions as well as a tendency toward exclusion of Visionary Art, I suggest that using the concepts of analytical psychology could potentially provide a more coherent explanation and understanding of the genre. Alongside this assertion, I also propose a new way of categorizing visionary artworks using a gradation scale based on the characteristics of pictorial configuration. This study is based on an important historical text by psychiatrist and art historian Hanz Prinzhorn, titled Artistry of the Mentally Ill (1922), a text which Jung himself possessed in his private library.
Rolling with the Stones for Seven Decades : A Multifaceted Education on Life View Digital Media
Focused Discussion Murali Venugopalan
The Rolling Stones have provided a multifaceted education to millions over a span of seven decades. This band, which was not supposed to survive the 1960s, has led through example for 60 years and counting. No band at this level of popularity and fame has taught millions of people more than The Rolling Stones. Through the past, during the global pandemic, and looking forward, we continue to gain valuable life lessons through their education on successes and failures including but not limited to songwriting, concerts, business savvy, perseverance, health and wellbeing, organizational management, and cultural knowledge spanning across six continents. Their multifaceted education on life includes numerous learning opportunities for everyone.
