Steve Baker/Mary Kosut & Lisa Jean Moore By Megan Mueller (05/31/14 20:17:40)
Steve Baker:
1. Steve Baker thinks people who criticize artists working with animals of being non-ethical is valid. But the purpose of his book is to highlight artists working with the theme of animal rights in ways that take responsibility for their actions without being bound to a clear line of what is right and what is wrong.
"So, against the grain of much contemporary commentary, this book presents the case for the importance of trusting artists to operate with integrity in relation to the animals that figure in their work. It argues that in approaching such work, there's much to be gained by setting out with the expectation that artists can be trusted to act in this manner."
2. The issue for Baker is taking the artist practice seriously.
"The book contends that contemporary art's distinctive contribution to understandings of human-animal relations will be recognized only if artists' practices-flawed and provisional as they may be- are taken seriously. To impose questions of ethics before even attending to the art is, at the very least, to risk failing to take those practices seriously."
3. Baker's criticism of the Rat Piece is that by performing this violent action in front of an audience he was setting the audience up to fail. An audience is generally a passive group. By expecting them to stop the artist is unreasonable. In both pieces, the artists were not concerned with the conditions of rats and goldfish, they were used as literal and symbolic tools to demonstrate life and death.
4. I don't think Baker is necessarily defending the pieces but is saying to not learn from them or to not consider them art would be a waste.
5. I think Baker is generally interested in artists working to highlight the issues of animal rights. But I don't think its necessarily a clear cut yes.
6. When thinking about myself as an artist, I believe that I do have responsibility ethical responsibilities. Those responsibilities include animals. When speaking for artist as a whole, I do not hold the group to the same standards. I do not want to be a censor. I think it is possible to learn from provocative pieces. But I will not partake in that dialogue by compromising animal life.
7. I definitely agree. I think there are many examples of compromise in science and cooking that should be held to the same standards as art practice.
Mary Kosut & Lisa Jean Moore
1. What important questions/issues does the text bring up?
What can contemporary interspecies bee/human art projects tell us about our shifting relationship to “nature” and the “animal” in visual culture?
There are species of animal and insect that held in high regard culturally than others. 1000 dead bees vs 1000 dead kittens.
2. How are the approaches to art making with animals different and/or similar than the ones discussed in Baker's text?
I think the approaches tend to use animal bi products (honey,honey combs, wax) or engage the animal as a co maker of the work. [Write Comment]