"Pop Art Myths" and the "Myths and Heroes" Notion

Pop Art, emerged in the late 1950s and the early 1960s. It is one of the most liberating moments in the history of art. This new type of art, was a ground breaking movement as it brings to an end the division betweeen "high" and "low" culture. British, Americans, french, German, Italien, and Spanish pop artists all shared the same ambition of making a break with the past, but also of reflecting on art and reality, on art and tradition, and on art and museums. Speaking about museums, the Thyssen Museum has held an art exhibition on Pop art myths' last year. This exhibition was a very general one, giving the opportunity to the public, who had no idea what pop art is, to have a first look at it, and discover this new type of art, and it's best known artists.

Andy Warhol - Superman - 1981

Some pop artists decides to represent some "myths". But what is a myth ? According to the sheet of myth's definitions: a myth can be a popular belief or story that has become associated with a person, institution, or occurence, especially one considered to illustrate a cultural ideal.

Superman is the best representation of this 3rd definition, because he embodies the superhero myth, which became somehow a cultural belief, a role model. We also, frequently associate this superheroes myth with an institution, and more especially, with a country: The United States of America.

This painting shows superman in the background, flying with his usual suite, with a black backdrop. Over him, we can see a sketch of the same superman, but without colors.

Andy Warhol - Queen Elisabeth II 

Pop artist sometimes decides to represent some heroes too. But what does a "hero" stand for ? It can be, a characther with noble qualities, who in the face of danger and adversity or from a position of weakness, displays copurage and the will for self sacrifice - that is, heroism - for some grater good of humanity.
Queen Elisabeth II, could be a good representation of this second definition. She is on one hand, the second longest monarch, and on the other hand, she embodies the characteristics of a hero; She is a character with noble qualities, who displays courage in the face of adversity. But we can also associate her with the fourth definition, which includes national heroes with political influence, this definition may suit her better as she is the queen of 12 independent countries.
This painting shows Queen Elisabeth II with a red backroung, along with pink, green, magenta, and blue superposed squares.



In my opinion this art movement is one of the most thoughtful arts, in modern art. It breaks the rules, but without forgetting the basis of art. The fact that pop art uses themes and techniques drawn from popular mass culture, such as advertising and comic book, like the painting of Superman, showed above, shows the importance that already had the media back then . An another point of pop art's originality, is that it's painting don't specially have a meaning, as opposed to the kind of art we are used to see. I feel that pop artists don't specially work to criticize a political party, or to criticize anything in general, but they just do art, to do art. Their use of bright colors, and the fact that their paintings are so colorful brings joy to my heart. Which makes me like pop art even more.
All cultures have myths. In every century, a new a king of mythology is born. As myths are told and re-told, they change. Which is why, in every century, mythology is represented in a different way. We continue to transmit them in our modern era, not only from older people telling them to younger people, but also through our modern technologies, like Tv, books, movies, paintings, etc...
Our society is surrounded by art, which makes us much more sensitive to art. Modern "mythology" being transmitted through pop art, may not be as a bad idea after all. We can be a lot more responsive, open, to modern mythology through art. Besides, what is a better idea to represent "new" mythology, than by a "new" kind of art.