Theme (arts)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| + | [[Image:El amor y la muerte(English Love and Death) is a plate 10 from Los Caprichos by Francisco Goya..jpg|thumb|200px|left|[[Love]] and [[death]] are two recurring themes in [[art history|art]] and [[History of literature|literary history]] | ||
| + | <br>Illustration: ''[[El amor y la muerte]]'' (English: Love and Death) is plate 10 from the ''[[Caprichos]]'' by [[Francisco Goya]].]] | ||
| + | [[Image:Ill-Matched Lovers (Quentin Matsys).jpg |thumb|right|200px|''[[Ill-Matched Lovers (Quentin Matsys)|Ill-Matched Lovers]]'' (c. 1520/1525) by [[Quentin Matsys]]]] | ||
| + | [[Image:Veronica's Veil (Francisco de Zurbarán, Bilbao).jpg|thumb|right|200px|''[[Veil of Veronica]]'', [[visionary art]] by [[Francisco de Zurbarán]], [[Bilbao Fine Arts Museum]], see [[Veronica's Veil (Francisco de Zurbarán) |...]]]] | ||
| {{Template}} | {{Template}} | ||
| - | :"The [[female nude]] is an enduring [[Theme (arts)|theme]] in the [[history of art]]. [[Venus]], the Roman [[goddess of love]] has acquired in [[visual art]] the status of synonym for any [[female]] [[nude]]." | ||
| In the [[visual arts]], a '''theme''' is a broad idea or a [[message]] conveyed by work done in a visual experience, such as a performance, a painting, or a motion picture. This message is usually about [[life]], [[society]] or [[human nature]]. Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a work. Themes are usually implied rather than explicitly stated. Deep thematic content is not required in a visual work; however, some observers would say that all visual work inherently projects some kind of outlook on life that can be taken as a theme, regardless of whether or not this is the [[Authorial intentionality|intent of the author]]. | In the [[visual arts]], a '''theme''' is a broad idea or a [[message]] conveyed by work done in a visual experience, such as a performance, a painting, or a motion picture. This message is usually about [[life]], [[society]] or [[human nature]]. Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a work. Themes are usually implied rather than explicitly stated. Deep thematic content is not required in a visual work; however, some observers would say that all visual work inherently projects some kind of outlook on life that can be taken as a theme, regardless of whether or not this is the [[Authorial intentionality|intent of the author]]. | ||
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| == See also == | == See also == | ||
| + | *[[Arts genre]] | ||
| *[[Theme]] | *[[Theme]] | ||
| + | *[[Theme (literature)]] | ||
| *[[Motif (visual arts)]] | *[[Motif (visual arts)]] | ||
| *[[Film criticism]] | *[[Film criticism]] | ||
| *[[Art criticism]] | *[[Art criticism]] | ||
| - | + | *[[Thematic art criticism]] | |
| {{GFDL}} | {{GFDL}} | ||
Current revision
Illustration: El amor y la muerte (English: Love and Death) is plate 10 from the Caprichos by Francisco Goya.
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In the visual arts, a theme is a broad idea or a message conveyed by work done in a visual experience, such as a performance, a painting, or a motion picture. This message is usually about life, society or human nature. Themes are the fundamental and often universal ideas explored in a work. Themes are usually implied rather than explicitly stated. Deep thematic content is not required in a visual work; however, some observers would say that all visual work inherently projects some kind of outlook on life that can be taken as a theme, regardless of whether or not this is the intent of the author.
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Difference from subject matter
A theme is not the same as the subject matter of a work. For example, the subject of Star Wars is "the battle for control of the galaxy between Galactic Empire and the Rebel Alliance". The themes explored in the movies might be "moral ambiguity" or "the conflict between technology and nature".
Difference from motif
Themes differ from motifs in that themes are ideas conveyed by the visual experience as a whole, while motifs are repeated symbols found inside an over-arching theme. Simply having repeated symbolism related to chess, does not make the story's theme the similarity of life to chess. Themes arise from the interplay of the plot, the characters, and the attitude the author takes to them, and the same story can be given very different themes in the hands of different authors.
The term theme may be used in the same way to refer to works of literature.
Examples of themes in art
- Ill-Matched Lovers in visual art of the 16th century
- Andy Warhol's various Pop art themes include mass production and cultural icons
See also
- Arts genre
- Theme
- Theme (literature)
- Motif (visual arts)
- Film criticism
- Art criticism
- Thematic art criticism
