ttitude to their own bodies. While people may consider this offensive Serrano replies “Crucifixion is a very ugly and painful way to die, but we see the crucifix as a very aestheticized object that has lost it’s meaning. So I think about the people who have been upset by the photograph: how would they react to a real crucifix” (qtd. in Weintraub 163). While faith for whole society cannot be restored by one photograph, overtime artwork can eventually increase the awareness. Andres Serrano is making progress and helping to reestablish the belief in Christ suffering for the world. This demonstrates his ability of as postmodern artists to ask the question where has our faith gone and can it be reinstated? Art has been traditionally based on beauty. What person can claim that they are not moved by the overall power of such classic works as Michangelo’s “David” or da Vinci’s “Mona Lisa”? From the prominent art critic to the everyday observer beautiful art has a place in society. Art can be displayed as decoration, but is not limited to being a luxury. The value of art can be purely to decorate a wall in a house or confined to a museum. It does not necessarily have evoked a change or a call to action as these postmodern pieces do. But aesthetics cannot be considered the only form of expression. There is a need for contemporary art. It is more than for attention or profit which compels contemporary artists to create moving pieces. Christian Boltanski claims “the functions of the artist is not to transmit news or information, but rather to ask questions, postulate problems, or posit situations” (qtd. in Weintraub 154). It is needed to increase awareness and suggest solutions to some problems. It is in the post-modern movement that art is seen as no longer fitting the beauty inspired mold. Mel Chin, through his earthworks, and especially “Revival Field”, ...
