The Culture of Art

I find the cave paintings to be the artists’ attempt to communicate their relationship with the world. The depiction of wild horses and delicate deer show the admiration the people held for these animals and their environment. As various animals were shown to not only be food sources, but forces of life besides humans, I reach the conclusion that the artists also worked to commemorate the spiritual and symbolic importance the natural world had in their life. In this sense, art becomes another way to share nature and spirits, perhaps even with future generations.

Following the previous point, animals may have been more central to the cave artists’ understanding of nature. In a world where survival depends on understanding and predicting animal behavior, these paintings specifically used animals to represent power, transformation, and mystery in a way drawings of humans did not. This is solidified for me as the human drawings are more abstract and rough compared to the detailed depiction of other animals. Ultimately, animals held more importance in the economy and ritual acts and myths than humans, and were rendered accordingly.

These paintings suggest a complex social life. As many of the figures required scaffolding, lighting, and various tools, one can draw the conclusion that the artists had shared intent and collaborated to complete the work. Repeated techniques and motifs suggest cultural transmission, possibly through something like an apprenticeship. Also, as the innermost cave chambers were mostly difficult to access and well decorated, it can be assumed that these people held these places as important. Ideas of magic and religion based in nature can also be seen in the paintings.

The depth and complexity of the caves speaks to the humans’ endurance and creativity. To see their canvas, the artists had to fuel their flame source with animal fat. Scaffolding was required to reach the ceilings. Even the physical task of grinding minerals into paint was demanding. Even the method of painting-brush, finger, etc.-required preparation.  

I think the art was primarily used for storytelling. Images could have encoded myths and explanations for creation, various phenomena of the natural world, or where the people came from. This storytelling could have simply been a channel to create or maintain a cultural identity as well. Documenting memories and beliefs shared across the group is just like writing a story. Ultimately, I think both of these possible functions of this art tie into another possibility, psychological expression. Art could have been their outlet for fear, wonder, and creativity. In this case, I think of the expression “people have always been people,” meaning that these cave artists felt the same boredom, wonder, and dangers of existence that people feel today, and art was and still is a way to process these feelings. Even in the “harsh” conditions of the Paleolithic era, people found ways to give their lives creative meaning while surviving. I’d go so far to say that “art,” creating images to make meaning of things, is an instinctual part of being human. 

Alternative rock music, as an art form, produces and is the product of culture, primarily spreading feelings and ideologies across social groups and generations. Alt rock began emerging mostly organically in the late 1970s as a resistance to mainstream music and how increasingly commercial the industry was becoming. Slowly but surely, a platform for resistance, identity, and emotion was built for this genre.

American band Bikini Kill pioneered the "riot grrrl" movement, maintaining feminist themes throughout their career and expressing intent through fiery performances.

Particularly, marginalized voices rode this wave while commenting on, usually critiquing, social norms, politics, and consumerism. This gave voice to alienation and existential angst especially, making a shared identity for those disconnected from mainstream identity. The “counter-culture,” “underground” narrative made space for those against dominant ideologies. 

Rage Against the Machine explore the exploitation of Indigenous peoples, especially in Mexico, in their song "People of the Sun," https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scyC9A6o_Ts

Objectively, alternative rock speaks to autonomy, vulnerability, and an overall discontent with the status quo. Artists developing and contributing and sharing these pillars in their music wanted raw sound while talking about things that were important to them. The genre became a form of cultural storytelling, transcending borders and language. In writing this assignment and considering this genre specifically, as a form of culture, artists like PJ Harvey, Rage Against the Machine, and The Cure come to mind; PJ Harvey challenged gender roles while exploring sexuality and violence, Rage combined rap and punk to call out racial injustice and call for radical political change, and The Cure wrote to the emotional complexity of resisting social conformity. Each artist channels a branch of the collective struggles that unify the genre.

Killing in the Name by Rage Against the Machine Live on BBC Radio 2009. They were asked not to curse. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qvcotaYpHrQ

I wouldn’t call Alternative Rock a complete culture, but a subculture. While a lot of the components I’m about to discuss could be argued as mainstream now, I contribute that to the ever growing popularity of the genre with bands like Nirvana, and the increasing amount of streaming and easy digital media access. The “language” of the songs are all unified with symbolism and critique, especially against authority. Individualism and DIY are valued. Spaces for the subculture to gather and reproduce include garage venues, online forums, and record shops. Embodied practices like mosh pits, zines, and late-night jam sessions. Fashion represents rebellion and detachment from consumer culture through thrifted clothing, combat boots, and ripped jeans. These components have grown in popularity recently, often detached from the subculture itself and merely taking inspiration from it, but alternative rock was built on these belief systems.

Ultimately, I think Alt Rock benefits society by challenging social norms while fostering creativity. In going against the dominant ideology, people are forced to think critically and examine reality themselves. Rather than going along with “The Machine,” people begin to realize the alternative realities and join the effort for social change.

Icelandic artist Bjork combined classical, electric, jazz, and traditional music into rock through collaboration with engineers and coders to develop new instruments. Her makeup, costumes, sets, and digital media created conceptual worlds of her music. Many of her songs advocate for nature conservation.

The art form fosters creativity in the music’s instrumentation and lyrics, visual and aesthetic components, and independent production. Without a rigid boundary, Alt Rock allowed artists to experimentally blend elements of various other genres and even traditional song-writing formulas. This also worked with the exploration of topics like mental illness, identity, dread, and political dissent that was typically ignored or censored by mainstream culture. Unique stage designs, album art, and music videos became extensions of Alt Rock. The Do-It-Yourself attitude empowered artists to further move away from mainstream, capital-hungry record labels to self-record and release music, design their own art and websites, and independently run venues.

Fugazi, founded 1987, released through the record label co-founded by their front man, Ian MacKaye. The group refrained from getting involved with a major label, keeping merch and ticket prices low despite their popularity.

I think the detriments of this art form are more nuanced, especially if you are not necessarily versed in the genre and its history. Overall, I think Alternative Rock can romanticize despair and display exclusivity. While some of the songs process sadness, many write under a sad aesthetic, which ends up idealizing suffering, isolation, and withdrawal. As the popularity of the genre grows, so does the amount of authenticity policing. Accusing someone of being a “poser” creates internal rifts and further excludes those who don’t align enough, which is especially ironic as that's the exact opposite of what the genre was built on.

American musician Jeff Buckley gained a cult following for the electric experience of his music, and has since turned into the patriarch of hopelessness, romantic yearning, and grief.