INSTITUTIONAL CRITIQUE Meaning and
Definition
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Institutional critique refers to a critical examination and analysis of art institutions, including museums, galleries, and other cultural organizations, through the lens of art and artistic practices. It primarily involves questioning the structures, conventions, and power dynamics that shape the production, display, and dissemination of art within the institutional framework.
This artistic approach emerged in the late 1960s and gained significant prominence in the 1970s as artists and theorists began challenging the established art establishment and its underlying ideologies. By scrutinizing the institutional apparatus, institutional critique aims to expose hidden biases, hierarchies, and contradictions while studying the mechanisms of inclusion and exclusion within the art world.
Typically, institutional critique involves artistic interventions within these institutions themselves, such as exhibitions, performances, or installation art. These interventions often aim to disrupt or subvert the existing institutional norms and practices, interrogating issues like authorship, cultural hegemony, politics of display, and the commercialization of art.
The intention behind institutional critique is not only to expose structural flaws but also to instigate critical reflection and create space for alternative voices and perspectives. By examining the very institutions that legitimize art, it seeks to challenge entrenched notions of what constitutes art, who creates it, and who gets to define its value.
Overall, institutional critique is a multidisciplinary practice that merges art, activism, and critical theory to explore the social, cultural, and political dimensions of artistic production and consumption within the institutional context.
Etymology of INSTITUTIONAL CRITIQUE
The term "institutional critique" originated in the field of contemporary art in the late 1960s and early 1970s. It refers to a particular genre of artistic practice that focuses on questioning and challenging the social, political, and economic structures of the art world and its institutions.
The word "institutional" derives from the Latin term "institutio", which means "establishment" or "foundation". It essentially refers to an organization or structure with a set of established rules, practices, and hierarchies. In the context of "institutional critique", it specifically alludes to the art institutions, such as museums, galleries, and universities, as well as the broader system surrounding them.
The word "critique" comes from the French term "critiquer", which means "to criticize" or "to review".
