Most Culturally Important Works Of Art

[swiss tony]

I need the help of NSC's culture vultures.

I have been asked to put together a 10 week culture course for Honduran university students studying English.

Basically we are looking to divide the course into four decades - the 60s,70s,80s and 90s.

We want to choose one novel or short story, one film, one piece of art, and one album from the English speaking world that reflects the cultural and social atmosphere of that decade. The idea is that the students not only appreciate the work of art itself but learn how we can learn something about history through it.

In a perfect world, the work of art would also mark mark a new movement within that art form.

I would be very interested to receive suggestions, as I may have completely overlooked some real gems.

To make it easier follow the following pattern for each decade:

A. Novel/short story
B. A film
C. Piece of Visual Art
D. Album

Thanks in advance for your contributions.

 

[Gwylan]

Interesting idea - I think it's hard to think of an overwhelming icon for a decade as there are so many genres/cults to deal with - is the 70s famous for glam rock, punk or disco for example.

My list is very anglocentric - an American would have different ideas

Here goes
A. Novel/short story: 60s Catch-22 or The Dice Man; 70s The History Man; 80s Money; 90s Trainspotting
B. A film: 60s Blow-Up 70s Saturday Night Fever or Star Wars; 80s Wall St; 90s Forrest Gump
C. Piece of Visual Art: 60s Whaam; 70s Mr and Mrs Clark and Percy 80s no idea; 90s The Physical Impossibility of Death in the Mind of Someone Living or Angel of the North
D. Album: 60s Sgt Pepper 70s Never Mind the Bollocks 80s The Stone Roses or Straight outa Compton; 90s What's the Story or Parklife

 

[beorhthelm]

My list is very anglocentric - an American would have different ideas

...
B. A film: 60s Blow-Up 70s Saturday Night Fever or Star Wars; 80s Wall St; 90s Forrest Gump

its very notable and a bit of a shame that the film selection is so US based.

i have nothing to add to this question as its a pretty good list.

 

[Gwylan]

its very notable and a bit of a shame that the film selection is so US based.

The UK film industry is so small compared to the US's though - it's almost inevitable. I could have said Four Weddings and a Funeral for the 90s but would struggle to think of any others.

But I did have one British film in my four - that's not a bad percentage

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

Good thread. I need to have a think. But:

60's Novel: Saturday Night, Sunday Morning.
80's Novel: Bonfire of the Vanities.

60's Film: Carry on Nurse.
70's Film: Mash.

50's Art: Sydney Opera House.
70's Art: Something Hockney. (The Splash).



60's Album: Who Live.
70's Album: Rumours.
80' Album: Frankie Goes to Hollywood - Two Tribes (not an Album exactly I know - but of its time).
90's Album: Oasis - What's the Story

 

[Gwylan]

70's Art: Something Hockney. (The Splash).

The Splash and the Bigger Splash were both 60s. I said Mr and Mrs Clark because I agree that Hockney is the big name and that that was a painting voted as one of the UK's favourite paintings not so long ago.

 

[Dick Knights Mumm]

The Splash and the Bigger Splash were both 60s. I said Mr and Mrs Clark because I agree that Hockney is the big name and that that was a painting voted as one of the UK's favourite paintings not so long ago.

Fair enough - I would not argue with the Clarks painting. It is worthy of their study.

 

[1234andcounting]

Very interesting idea.

60s

Novel/Short story: A Clockwork Orange - Anthony Burgess
Film: Hard Day's Night - Dick Lester/Beatles
Work of art: Andy Warhol, probably - Marilyn or the Beans (or was that 50s?)
Album: Forever Changes - Love

70s

Novel/short story: The History Man - Malcolm Bradbury
Film: American Graffitti - George Lucas, or Jaws - Steven Speilberg
Work of Art:
Album: Never Mind The Bollocks - Sex Pistols

80s

Novel/short story: Anything by Martin Amis - Money, London Fields
Film: Wall Street - Oliver Stone
Work of Art:
Album: Diamond Life - Sade

90s

Novel/short story: High Fidelity - Nick Hornby
Film: Four Weddings and A Funeral
Work of Art; Anything by the new generation of British Artists such as Damien Hirst or Tracey Emin.
Album: The Spice Girls

 

[dannyboy]

70s film - confessions of a wondow cleaner

 

[seagullsslimjim]

70s film - confessions of a wondow cleaner

is that the Chinese version?

 

[dannyboy]

90s film - universal soldier 3 - brothers in arms

 

[Lush]

So difficult to put artists into a decade. Francis Bacon or Lucian Freud seem good choices, but where to put them? I'd almost be tempted to put a Vivienne Westwood design into an 80s work of art.

 

[swiss tony]

Thanks for everbody's input. Its a more difficult task than it first seems isn't it?

 

[Pavilionaire]

Musically I'd say:

60s - Beatles - Sgt Peppers Lonely Hearts Club Band
70s - David Bowie - The Rise And Fall Of Ziggy Stardust And The Spiders From Mars
80s - Duran Duran - Rio
90s - Oasis - What's The Story Morning Glory

 

[coach03]

60's Film - This Sporting Life about Rugby League - a bit of social history within the drama

 

[Jamie]

the jimmy case free kick that took us to wembley in 83. that was a work of art.

 

[auschr]

what about gaming ?

 

[Spun Cuppa]

Films (depicting a decade)...

60's Performance

70's Apocalypse Now Redux

80's Paris, Texas

90's The Player

 

[pishhead]

what about gaming ?

I reckon you would be struggling for the 70's!