Learning from the Virus. Exploration of historic and contemporary representations and art works of pandemics and epidemics

Table of Contents

1. Introduction

1.1 WHAT IS PLAGUE ART?

1.2 The Black Death

1.3 DEATH

1.4 DANSE MACABRE

1.5 MADONNA DELLA MISERICORDIA

1.6 SAINTS

1.7 HIV/AIDS crisis

1.8 QUEER ART

1.9 Great Influenza Pandemic

1.10 EGON SCHIELE

1.11 EDVARD MUNCH

1.12 COVID-19 pandemic

1.13 TRACEY EMIN

2. Conclusion

Research Objectives and Themes

This dissertation explores how artists throughout history have responded to pandemics and epidemics, specifically examining the Black Death, the HIV/AIDS crisis, the Great Influenza, and the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on both historical and contemporary representations to understand the role of art in times of crisis.

• The intersection of art, religion, and mortality during historical plagues.
• Political and activist art as a response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
• The role of self-portraiture in documenting personal trauma during respiratory pandemics.
• The function of creative practice and online platforms in managing isolation and collective crisis.

Excerpt from the Book

Summary of Chapters

Introduction: Provides an overview of how artists respond to times of crisis to provide understanding and empathy, outlining the specific pandemics examined in the text.

WHAT IS PLAGUE ART?: Discusses the religious context and warning function of art during the Black Death and subsequent pandemics.

The Black Death: Details the arrival of the plague in Europe and its drastic impact on the population and artistic themes.

DEATH: Examines theological literature regarding the 'Art of Dying' and the spiritual preparations during the pandemic.

DANSE MACABRE: Analyzes the recurring visual theme of dancing skeletons as a 'memento mori' symbol.

MADONNA DELLA MISERICORDIA: Explores the iconography of the Virgin Mary as a source of refuge and protection from divine punishment.

SAINTS: Discusses the role of saints, particularly St. Sebastian, as mediators between the suffering mortals and the Divine.

HIV/AIDS crisis: Details the social and political impact of the AIDS epidemic and the resulting rise in LGBTQ+ stigmatization.

QUEER ART: Examines the activist role of queer art, specifically the collective Gran Fury, in response to governmental and religious indifference.

Great Influenza Pandemic: Covers the impact of the 1918 influenza and how its trauma was captured through self-portraiture.

EGON SCHIELE: Analyzes Schiele's personal struggle with the 1918 pandemic reflected in his painting 'The Family'.

EDVARD MUNCH: Investigates how Edvard Munch utilized self-portraiture to document his own illness and existential dread.

COVID-19 pandemic: Explores the modern global reaction to COVID-19, including the shift to digital artistic expression.

TRACEY EMIN: Focuses on how Emin used online platforms and intimate self-isolation paintings to cope with anxiety and personal health issues.

Conclusion: Synthesizes the historical transition of plague art from religious warning to political activism and personal therapeutic expression.

Keywords

Pandemics, Black Death, HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, Great Influenza, Queer Art, Activism, Self-portraiture, Isolation, Trauma, Religion, Art History, Resilience, Digital Art, Mortality

Frequently Asked Questions

What is this research primarily about?

The work explores how artists have depicted pandemics across history, from the Black Death to the contemporary COVID-19 era.

What are the primary thematic areas?

The core themes include the intersection of mortality and art, the evolution of religious versus political iconography in response to disease, and the role of the artist as documentarian of communal trauma.

What is the central research question?

The study aims to understand how visual art functions as a tool for both social commentary and personal healing during times of global health crisis.

Which scientific method is applied?

The research relies on historical analysis, visual iconography studies, and the critical review of contemporary artistic practices to draw connections between historical responses and current events.

What is addressed in the main body?

The body analyzes specific historical and contemporary case studies, including the Black Death, the HIV/AIDS epidemic, and the works of artists like Egon Schiele, Edvard Munch, and Tracey Emin.

Which keywords define this dissertation?

Key terms include Pandemics, AIDS activism, Plague Art, Queer Art, and the use of digital media for artistic survival.

How does the author relate contemporary art to the COVID-19 lockdown?

The author discusses how artists like Tracey Emin utilized online platforms and daily documentation during the lockdown to manage isolation and personal illness.

What is signified by the 'Danse Macabre'?

It acts as a 'memento mori', reminding viewers that death is a universal equalizer regardless of social class or status.

Why was the 'Silence = Death' campaign significant within the HIV/AIDS crisis?

It represented an aggressive political response by activists to the perceived failure of the Catholic Church and government to address the crisis effectively.

How is St. Sebastian used in the context of plague-time art?

St. Sebastian serves as a figure of empathy and identification, where his martyrdom and resulting salvation mirror the suffering and potential hope of the plague-stricken population.