Imagining America: Icons of 20th-Century American Art This two-hour art program presents some of the most important American artists and art in the context of the cultural and social transformations that defined the identity and nature of America in the 20th century. Each section of the film examines one of three basic questions: How do American artists represent the world around us? How do American artists represent themselves? How do American artists help us understand how mass media has transformed our sense of self and society? Through the work, ideas and lives of more than 50 leading artists and scholars, these questions stimulate the viewer to think about what makes us distinctly American. When's it on? Download Questions (PDF file - Adobe Reader required) What do you think is the purpose of art? How important are the visual arts to you? How necessary is knowledge of an artist's biography to an appreciation of his or her work? What's your favorite genre of art? Why does it appeal to you? What do you think is the most important message art can convey? Should art be "eternal" or "of its time?" Why do you say so? Whom do you consider the most important American artist of the 20th-century? Why does this artist matter so much? How much can you tell about a society by the kind of art that becomes popular? If you could own one of the paintings highlighted in the program, which would you choose? Why? In your estimation, how much power does art have to "transform" society?
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