Can re-contextualised ideas be contemporary?
con·tem·po·rar·y
[kuh
n-tem-puh-rer-ee]adjective, noun, plural -rar·ies.–adjective
1.
existing, occurring, or living at the same time; belonging tothe same time:
discovery of the calculus wascontemporary withthat of Leibniz.
2.
of about the same age or date: a Georgian table with acontemporary wig stand.
3.
of the present time; modern: a lecture on the contemporarynovel.
–noun
4.
a person belonging to the same time or period with another orothers.
5.
a person of the same age as another.
DICTIONARY DEFINITION - dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/contemporary
The word 'Contemporary' by dictionary definition is something existing now or something created present day, however if you go into many museums this word can refer to art -pre WW2, therefore taking this word on face value raises some speculation. "In Britain in the 1990's contemporary art became a part of popular culture". Another significant issue would be that of what constitues art in the first place;
"Serious art is ultimately exceedingly difficult to distinguish definitively from art that falls short of that designation"
con·tex·tu·al·ize
n-teks-choo-uh-lahyz]–verb (used with object), -iz
ed, -iz·ing.
to put (a linguistic element, an action, etc.) in a context, esp. onethat is characteristic or appropriate, as for purposes of study.
Also, especially British , con·tex·tu·al·ise .
Origin:
DICTIONARY DEFINITION - dictionary.com
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/contextualize
To re-contextualise an idea you are taking inspiration from something that happened in the past which may or may not have been iconic and updating it usually with your 'stamp' or style, this goes hand in hand with the notion of originality, similarly with Lachapelle's 'Warholesque'photographs, artists can bring past ideas into our current culture without the public thinking twice; for instance if you were reading ID and came across this Annie Leibovitz photograph, you wouldnt think twice that the artist in the picture had painted himself taking inspiration from Egyptian and Aboriginal art;
Keith Haring by Annie Leibovitz New York City 1986
UNKNOWN. Aboriginal Artist.
Keith Haring. Untitled. 1982. (Nuclear Sex Series)
UNKNOWN. Aboriginal Artist.
Keith Haring. Untitled. 1982
Keith Haring is a graffiti artist, by comparing and contrasting his work you can see some very clear inspiration and techniques used in early Aboriginal and Egyptian paintings, Haring died in 1990 so this isn't necessarily contemporary by dictionary definition, however Haring's prints are still being used and sold on clothing today. This is a fantastic example of re contextualisation as even after the artist has died his iconic work is still living on in new forms, thus proving his work must be contemporary enough to justify a tshirt being sold in Urban Outfitters with his print.
