What Is Critical Race Art History?

Art|Art History

Critical Race Art History is an interdisciplinary field of study that seeks to explore the historically marginalized and underrepresented voices in the visual arts. It does this by examining the ways in which race has been used to construct and maintain power over marginalized groups, as well as how these same people have used art to resist such oppression. The field of Critical Race Art History is particularly concerned with understanding how art has been used to shape perceptions of race and identity, both past and present.

Critical Race Art History is a relatively new field of study, having only emerged in the late 1990s. It was developed by scholars who sought to expand the scope of traditional art history to include more diverse voices and perspectives. This new field seeks to challenge existing power structures within art institutions, which are often rooted in white privilege, by uncovering stories that have been excluded from most art historical narratives.

At its core, Critical Race Art History examines how race has been used as a tool of oppression throughout history. This includes examining how racial imagery has been used in artworks to perpetuate stereotypes and reinforce existing power dynamics.

Additionally, it looks at how artwork created by people of color has often been overlooked or devalued within the traditional canon of Western art history due to racism and other forms of discrimination. By exploring these issues, Critical Race Art History provides a more nuanced understanding of art history that includes the contributions made by marginalized communities.

Critical Race Art History also considers how artwork can be used as a form of resistance against oppressive systems and ideologies. Through analyzing works created by artists from historically marginalized communities, this field seeks to uncover stories that have previously gone untold or unrecognized within conventional narratives about art history. These works often provide powerful visual commentary on issues such as racism, colonialism, sexism, and other forms of oppression that affect marginalized communities today.

Overall, Critical Race Art History provides an important perspective on the visual arts that challenges existing notions about what constitutes “art” and “art history” while recognizing the valuable contributions made by people from diverse backgrounds throughout history. By looking beyond traditional narratives about art history based on white privilege and supremacy, this field provides a much-needed platform for exploring stories that have often gone untold or unrecognized within mainstream discourse about visual culture.

In conclusion, Critical Race Art History is an interdisciplinary field that seeks to unveil stories excluded from conventional narratives about visual culture while challenging existing notions about what constitutes “art” and “art history” based on white privilege. By analyzing artwork created by people from historically marginalized backgrounds throughout history, this new field provides an important perspective on visual culture that highlights the valuable contributions made by diverse voices despite oppressive systems and ideologies attempting to silence them.