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Course: Start here > Unit 2
Lesson 5: Questions in art history- What is Cultural Heritage?
- Where are the women artists?
- Must art be beautiful?
- Is there a difference between art and craft?
- What's the point of realism?
- What makes art valuable—then and now?
- Copying — spotlight: Virgin Hodegetria
- Copying as innovation and resistance
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What's the point of realism?
Realism art captures life just as it is. It's a reaction against romanticism, focusing on ordinary people and everyday activities. Realism artists like Gustave Courbet reject idealized beauty, making art more accessible and relatable. Created by Smarthistory.
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I tried to differentiate between realism and naturalism but could not. According to the video, realism is a depiction of the world as it is and not how we want it to be... *What then is naturalism?* Is it not a way of depicting the world as it is as well?(3 votes)
Maybe instead of dealing with words, the exercise you need to do should be with your eyes. Do this: use a search engine, set it for "pictures" and ask for "Soviet Realism". Save a picture or two. Then ask the search engine to show you "naturalistic art". Save a picture or two. Compare them. The difference should be clear to your eyes (and to your soul), and won't require any words.(3 votes)
Great video; however, why is there a commercial at the end? I understand this was a PBS video uploaded here, but in several years and thousands of videos watched, this is the first commercial I have ever seen on Khan Academy. I hope this does not become a regular thing.(3 votes)- Maybe it was just sloppy editing that left the promotional bit on there.(3 votes)
- Sorry but since my English isn't that great, I couldn't fully understand why we still use paintings instead of photography.(1 vote)
- Photography is not a replacement for painting since the objective of painting has never been pure documentation and photography is also a subjective expression. Further, every media contains its own qualities and strengths.(2 votes)