In the article, Res. Asst. Büşra Kamacıoğlu examines the effects of the culture industry phenomenon on contemporary art and examines its reflections on contemporary art in Turkey. In addition, it is aimed to reveal the effect on cultural activities and artistic products.
Res. Asst. Büşra Kamacıoğlu's views on the article are as follows:
“The rapid changes in information and communication since the end of the twentieth century are eliminating international borders. This change also makes itself felt in the field of art and this new trend emerges under the name of "new world order", "postmodernity" and "globalization". The mass culture that emerged as a result of this also destroys aesthetic sensitivity with the concepts of imitation and irony. Money becomes the only measure rather than aesthetic criteria. Everything the artist consumes is money. With the change in the consumer profile, the concept of status has also changed. The price of the work and the location of the buyer become elements that appraise the work of art. This creates pressure between the product and the manufacturer, affecting the artist from the creation stage to the presentation stage. Repetitive works such as sales and branding ideas and mass production show the influence of the culture industry on the artist's work. In this way, the culture industry's attempt to turn the work of art into a commodity destroys the stance of the work of art. In addition, the emergence of the so-called kitchens, which are tasteless and without aesthetic value, seen in various objects in the twentieth century, is another reflection of the culture industry on art.
In Turkey, the culture industry management, and economy play a leading role in the popularity of contemporary art. The involvement of banks, collectors, and businessmen in the art market and international art fairs plays an active role in making art a popular structure. Although this situation seems to support art and the artist, it is also an effort to brand the artist and the work he produces within the consumption culture.
In this context, I approached my work in two main dimensions. First of all, I tried to reveal the effects of the Frankfurt School and the culture industry phenomenon on art. I have treated the culture industry as a means of transforming art into a marketplace. Secondly, I finished my work by examining its reflections on contemporary art in the world and in Turkey in the historical process.”
We thank Res. Asst. Büşra Kamacıoğlu for her contributions and wish her continued success.
