Theme (arts)
From The Art and Popular Culture Encyclopedia
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| - | {{Template}}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]]. Analysis of changes (or implied change) in dynamic characteristics of the work can provide insight into a particular theme. | + | [[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]].]] | |
| - | A theme is not the same as the subject of a work. For example, the ''subject'' of ''[[Star Wars]]'' is "the battle for control of the galaxy between [[Galactic Empire (Star Wars)|Galactic Empire]] and the [[Rebel Alliance]]". The ''themes'' explored in the movies might be "moral ambiguity" or "the conflict between technology and nature". | + | [[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}} | ||
| + | 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]]. | ||
| + | ==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 (Star Wars)|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 [[motif (visual arts)|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. | Themes differ from [[motif (visual arts)|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. | ||
| - | While thematic analysis is a primary concern of [[Art critic]]s, a minority viewpoint holds that explicitly stating the theme of a work universalizes it in an inappropriate way. For example, many love stories end happily when the hero and heroine marry, thus the theme "Marriage equals happiness." Critics would point out that marriage rarely does simply equate to happiness and that marriage and happiness are individual and cultural intangibles that may or may not relate. | + | The term '''theme''' may be used in the same way to refer to works of [[Theme (literature)|literature]]. |
| - | + | ||
| - | The term '''theme''' may be used in the same way to refer to works of [[Theme (literature)|literature]]. The examples below are not necessarily the only themes in the works listed. | + | |
| ==Examples of themes in art== | ==Examples of themes in art== | ||
| - | ''[[Hamlet]]'' by [[William Shakespeare]]: | + | *[[Ill-Matched Lovers]] in visual art of the 16th century |
| - | Themes include: | + | *[[Andy Warhol]]'s various [[Pop art]] themes include mass production and [[cultural icon]]s |
| - | * The impossibility of certainty | + | |
| - | * The mystery of death [http://www.sparknotes.com/shakespeare/hamlet/themes.html] | + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | [[Andy Warhol]]'s various [[Pop art]] series: | + | |
| - | Themes include: | + | |
| - | * Mass production | + | |
| - | * Cultural touchstones [http://www.nga.gov.au/warhol/Kinsman.cfm] | + | |
| - | + | ||
| - | ''[[Pan's Labyrinth]]'' by [[Guillermo del Toro]]: | + | |
| - | Themes include: | + | |
| - | * The similarities between fantasy and reality worlds | + | |
| - | * The loss of innocence that comes with the end of a childhood | + | |
| == See also == | == See also == | ||
| + | *[[Arts genre]] | ||
| + | *[[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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[edit]
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".
[edit]
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.
[edit]
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
[edit]
See also
- Arts genre
- Theme
- Theme (literature)
- Motif (visual arts)
- Film criticism
- Art criticism
- Thematic art criticism
Unless indicated otherwise, the text in this article is either based on Wikipedia article "Theme (arts)" or another language Wikipedia page thereof used under the terms of the GNU Free Documentation License; or on research by Jahsonic and friends. See Art and Popular Culture's copyright notice.
