Traces of Reality: Abstract Art and the CIA (WIW 13)

EPISODE 107 | Traces of Reality: Abstract Art and the CIA (World Is Weird 13) Guest: Mandy Theis, founder and director of the School of Atelier Arts, academic director and professor at the Florence Academy of Art Maybe you've walked into a museum or gallery and seen a big white, blank canvas, or a huge circle, and thought, "So, this is art, eh?". But why is there so much of this abstract stuff around? The answer might be surprising - because the CIA promoted it as part of the Cold War. And then it rather got away from them. Today, the art market is the most unregulated in the world, and aesthetics and skill take a back seat to branding.  Like what we do? Then buy us a beer or three via our page on Buy Me a Coffee. #ConspiracyClearinghouse #sharingiscaring #donations #support #buymeacoffee You can also SUBSCRIBE to this podcast. Review us here or on IMDb! SECTIONS 02:31 - Atelier training, the CIA begins, the cultural Cold War was run by elitists, Julia Child, Realism gets rebranded as Communist, the Springville Museum of Art in Utah, cadmium red as protest, dry brushing technique, techniques follow money, skill list art, technical skills are being lost 12:30 - Social Realism, Czech Functionalism and German Bauhaus, Cubist architecture, art is always in motion, Russians tweaked French Realism, Abstract art eclipses realism, a war of aesthetics and marketing, the French discount the Americans, America pushes Abstract Expressionism, Marshall Plan money becomes a black bag, the Congress of Cultural Freedom, Clement Greenberg, Art criticism as marketing 23:18 - the NCL (Non-Communist Left), Jackson Pollack was a CIA tool, American racial attitudes work against them 28:24 - Abstract Expressionism promoted as ultimate American style because it has no inherent meaning, it's safe; Picasso had atelier training, Truman hated abstract art ("ham and egg men"), George Dondero goes nuts about abstract art on the House floor, Realism is not retrograde, we are losing the artistic skills to make beautiful things 36:06 - the CIA's efforts were very successful, the modern art market is the most unregulated in the world, technique gets separated from art so it all becomes about money, everything is branded,  Warhol critiques all this, fine art feels remote from most of us, the art world is a closed circuit, Thomas Kinkade was successful because at least his work meant something to some people, scribbles are scribbles but branding makes them art 47:51 - Don't know if it's art, but I like it; Realism is still villainized  Music by Fanette Ronjat More Info:  The School of Atelier Arts website Bodyguard of Lies: The Ghost Army & Wartime Deception (World Is Weird 11) The Cultural Cold War: The CIA and the World of Arts and Letters by Frances Stonor Saunders Springville Museum of Art -  largest public collection of 20th century Russian and Soviet art in the western United States 15 things to know about Norman Rockwell Why Norman Rockwell Matters Ralph McQuarrie: Star Wars' Concept Artist A Visit to the CIA’s “Secret” Abstract Art Collection Was Modern Art Really a CIA Psy-Op? Class 8. The CIA and the Cultural Cold War Origins of the Congress of Cultural Freedom, 1949-50 Cultural Cold War on CIA.gov WHEN FREEDOM TOOK THE OFFENSIVE: The Congress for Cultural Freedom and the Power of Ideas Congress for Cultural Freedom on Spartacus Educational  Cold Warrior: The Clement Greenberg Phenomenon CIA Weaponizing Abstract Art and Its Fallout The use of American art in the Cold War How MoMA and the CIA Conspired to Use Unwitting Artists to Promote American Propaganda During the Cold War Ford Foundation - Funding transatlantic exchange between the arts and politics The Ford Foundation and the CIA: A documented case of philanthropic collaboration with the Secret Police Modern art was CIA 'weapon' How the CIA Secretly Used Jackson Pollock & Other Abstract Expressionists to Fight the Cold War Was modern art a weapon of the CIA? Jackson Pollock & the CIA on The Conspiracy of Art website Why did the CIA sponsor Jackson Pollock? Pollock is Bollocks Pollock: genius or charlatan? Jackson Pollock: Separating Man from Myth Viewpoint: Why racism in US is worse than in Europe - BBC Viewpoint “They treated us royally”? Black Americans in Britain during WW2 Why abstract art is not valid Abstract Art Is Not Art and Definitely Not Abstract The Tyranny of Abstract Art in The Atlantic Communist conspiracy in art threatens American museums, Congressional Record, March, 17, 1952 Anticommunism and Modern Art - selection from the George Dondero Papers THE SUPPRESSION OF ART IN THE MCCARTHY DECADE The Shame of the Mural Censors — Why Art and History Matter Between Avant-Garde and Kitsch: Deconstructing Art And/As Ideology on Project MUSE Modern American Art and the Politics of Cultural Diplomacy Abstract Expressionism and the Cold War 'The art trade is the last major unregulated market' A Fascinating, Sexy, Intellectually Compelling, Unregulated Global Market. - Freakonomics ep. 484 The Art Market: Unregulated Unscrupulous And Worth Billions High-end art is one of the most manipulated markets in the world THE ART MARKET: AFFLUENCE AND DEGRADATION on Art Forum Billion Dollar Painter: The Triumph and Tragedy of Thomas Kinkade, Painter of Light book Thomas Kinkade: A Success - 60 Minutes Thomas Kinkade: The Painter Art Critics Hated but America Loved Much to the Chagrin of the Art Establishment, the Numbers Indicate that Thomas Kinkade Is the Most Successful and Relevant Artist in Human History Thomas Kinkade Was the World's Biggest Selling Painter. Art for Everybody Asks Why Follow us on social: Facebook Twitter Other Podcasts by Derek DeWitt DIGITAL SIGNAGE DONE RIGHT - Winner of a 2022 Gold Quill Award, 2022 Gold MarCom Award, 2021 AVA Digital Award Gold, 2021 Silver Davey Award, 2020 Communicator Award of Excellence, and on numerous top 10 podcast lists.  PRAGUE TIMES - A city is more than just a location - it’s a kaleidoscope of history, places, people and trends. This podcast looks at Prague, in the center of Europe, from a number of perspectives, including what it is now, what is has been and where it’s going. It’s Prague THEN, Prague NOW, Prague LATER