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Thứ Sáu, 1 tháng 8, 2014

The Nature Of Kafkaesque Art

By Miranda Sweeney


When writers affect us deeply, it is no wonder that their names are adopted and made into adjectives as part of our language. Franz Kafka is one of these writers and the adjective used in this one-world slogan devised from his name basically describes a strongly surreal situation and yet one to which people can relate. His works are widely read and their quintessential qualities have infiltrated not only into our language usage but into many avenues of artistic expression, Kafkaesque art being one of these.

The works of Kafka were marked by a disorientating, sometimes menacing complexity. He managed to combine great yearning together with a sense of impossibility and futility. Kafka himself did stark, graphic drawings infused with this same tension. Many of his drawings have ended up gracing the covers of his books.

The imagery used in his works is dark, whether this is a giant device used for torture and capital punishment by the military, a human turned into a huge insect or an artist starving himself to death. This dark imagery has also given artists on all sorts of art forms impetus. Their images reflect the alienation of man and his anxiety as he deals with a world that is dehumanized.

In a world Kafka presents where everything is subject to change, we are forced to consider the fact that we are subject to change too. Artists today produce intriguing paintings of insects with human characteristics or humans as machines or animals. Individuals experience anxiety and a lack of control due to being subjected to a dehumanized world where there are few answers.

Symbolism is important in any art and the work of Kafka is filled with it. For example, a cage symbolizes entrapment, alienation and isolation from others. The use of symbolism introduces mystery and offers the possibility of different interpretations. Those who enjoy this type of artistic expression are required to use their own imaginations to interpret what is represented.

Ambiguity or double meanings are another way to introduce suspense and uncertainty. Kafka was brilliant at manipulating language to introduce ambiguity. Paintings of this nature have the same ambiguity and one can look at them time and time again to try and decipher hidden meanings.

There are so many different art forms that have been inspired by the concepts, imagery and symbolism of Kafka. Artists, musicians, dancers and photographers have all interpreted his vision and even expanded on his ideas. Even computer games owe some of their surreal qualities and presentments of danger to the influence of writers like Kafka.

One of the most important aspects of works like this, whatever form they come in, is that they force us to face the complexities and ambiguities of our world. This is a world where we often do not have answers and things are often not clear. Such works help us to live with the complexities of our modern existence. Works like this are available for purchase online.




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