Image Scavengers: Collage, Montage, and Appropriation in 20th Century Art

“Image Scavengers” introduces students to a broad cross section of European and American art through study of the creative techniques of collage, assemblage, montage, construction, and appropriation. The collage technique (the incorporation of found or appropriated “non-original” or “non-art” material) is arguably the most significant and original technical innovation of 20th century art.

These techniques were central to the avant-garde’s questioning of traditional painting and sculpture, conceptions of the nature of the art object, the role of the artist, the relation of high art to popular culture, and the commodity status of art. Critical issues raised by these techniques would also play a central role in Post-modernism. Through close examination of collage techniques in the visual arts, literature, film, and popular culture, students develop an understanding of some key critical issues of both Modernism and Post-Modernism. The development of analogous creative practices in other cultural forms, such as film and literature will also be examined.