East, West, & Twelve Bronze Heads

Jul 15, 2021

This week, we discuss the tenuous relationship between the Western fine art market and the People's Republic of China. We cover the Old Summer Palace bronze heads, why westerners find it easy to love Ai Weiwei, and the Second Opium War because global conflict was the most popular means of art collecting in 19th century...

Hudson River School & Manifest Destiny

Jul 8, 2021

This week we discuss one of the United States' first fine art movements—the Hudson River School—and it's inextricable relationship with Manifest Destiny. We also discuss the legacy of these two ideas in American art, and Mason rants some more about Ansel Adams. A good time is had by all.

And if you want to keep...

Fine Art & Queer Censorship

Jun 10, 2021

This episode contains explicit content that is meant for neither work nor children.

It's Pride Month, round two! This week, Mason and Sean are discussing the history of censorship of LGBTQ+ art from Robert Mapplethorpe (NSFW link) to now, and what that history can tell us about the evolution of American fine art and...

Kathleen Larsen

May 20, 2021

This week, Mason and Sean are joined by abstract painter Kathleen Larsen to discuss how personal experiences and the events of the past year or so brought about a new direction for her art practice. We also discuss the shifting landscape of art Instagram, peace and conflict studies, and navigating abstract art in...

Asian Culture in Western Art

May 13, 2021

Mason and Sean return for part two of AAPI Heritage Month with an episode examining the outsized influence of Japanese art and Asian culture in general on modern and contemporary Western fine art. We discuss Jun'ichirō Tanizaki's In Praise of Shadows, Urban Outfitters, and whatever this ignorant garbage is. We only...