Transgressive art is art that aims to
transgress; i.e. to outrage or violate basic morals and sensibilities. The term
transgressive was first used in this sense by American filmmaker Nick Zedd and
his Cinema of Transgression in 1985. Zedd used it to
describe his legacy with underground film-makers like Paul Morrissey, John
Waters, and Kenneth Anger, and the relationship they shared with Zedd and his
New York City peers in the early 1980s.
Definition
From an academic perspective, many traces
of transgression can be found in any art which by some is considered offensive
because of its shock value; from the French Salon des Refusés artists to Dada
and Surrealism. Philosophers Mikhail Bakhtin and Georges Bataille have
published works on the nature of transgression. Probably the most thorough book
on the early transgressive movement is Deathtripping: The Cinema of
Transgression by Jack Sargeant.
Transgressional works share some themes
with art that deals with psychological dislocation and mental illness. Examples
of this relationship, between social transgression and the exploration of
mental states relating to illness, include many of the activities and works of
the Dadaists, Surrealists, and Fluxus-related artists, such as Carolee Schneemann
– and, in literature, Albert Camus's L'Etranger or J.D. Salinger's The Catcher
in the Rye
Changes in movement
Since the late 1990s a new group of
transgressive artists have emerged, such as the Canadian artist Rick Gibson who
made a pair of earrings out of human fetuses and ate a piece of human testicle.
In China several artists became well known for producing transgressive art;
including Zhu Yu, who achieved notoriety when he published images of himself
eating what appeared to be a human fetus; and Yang Zhichao for extreme body
art.
Artists
Perhaps the most famous transgressive
artist of the early 1980s, Richard Kern began making films in New York
Subsequent transgressive artists of the
1990s overlapped the boundaries of literature, art, and music, most famously GG
Allin, Lisa Crystal Carver, Shane Bugbee, and Costes. With these artists came a
greater emphasis on life itself (or death) as art, rather than just depicting a
certain mindset in film or music. They were instrumental in creating a new type
of visionary art and music, and influenced artists including Alec Empire, Cock
E.S.P., Crash Worship, Usama Alshaibi, Natural Athlete, Liz Armstrong, Lennie
Lee, Weasel Walter, Andy Ortmann, and the later work featured in Peter Bagge's
comic Hate.
Newer transgressive artists of the 2010s
such as Nickk Dropkick, Joan Cornellà, Aleksandra Waliszewska, and Molg H seem
to have brought about a revival of transgressive art in recent years, with some
small measure of popularity.
However, the term can also be applied to
transgressive literature as well. Recent examples include Trainspotting by
Irvine Welsh, Blood and Guts in High School by Kathy Acker, American Psycho by
Bret Easton Ellis, Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk, and J.G. Ballard's short
story The Enormous Space. These works deal with issues that were considered to
be outside the social norms. Their characters abuse drugs, engage in violent behaviour
or could be considered sexual deviants. Trangressive writing can also be
reflected in non-fiction, such as the writing style of Jim Goad.
Among the most notorious works of
transgressive art among the general public have been sculpture, collages, and
installation art which offended Christian religious sensibilities. These
include Andres Serrano's Piss Christ, featuring a crucifix in a beaker of
urine, and Chris Ofili's The Holy Virgin Mary, a multi-media painting which is
partially made of elephant dung.
In music
Rock and roll music has inspired
controversy for the entirety of its existence. As the music grew in popularity,
some artists used controversy to make a statement or turn it to their
advantage. For musical genres such as shock rock, punk rock, horrorcore and its
parent genres hardcore hip hop and gangsta rap; grindcore, black metal and
death metal, as well as various bands within the avant-garde rock genre,
offending modern sensibilities was an integral part of their music. Musicians
such as Alice Cooper, Slayer, Kiss, N.W.A, Iggy Pop, Misfits, W.A.S.P., GWAR,
GG Allin, The Plasmatics, Cannibal Corpse, Tyler, The Creator, Throbbing
Gristle, Marilyn Manson, Die Antwoord, Costes, The Mentors, Anal Cunt, The Sex
Pistols, The Meatmen, Brotha Lynch Hung and the Dead Kennedys used
anti-Christian, anti-establishment, satirical lyrics that were generally
considered to be evil by those who did not understand them. Some bands used the
controversy to increase their popularity. The idea was, if people complained
about their music enough and truly hated them, then the band's name and
knowledge of their existence would reach the ears of people who would
appreciate their music.
Source From Wikipedia
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