Why Is It Called Pop Art?

Art|Pop Art

Pop Art is an art movement that emerged during the mid-1950s in Britain and the late 1950s in the United States. The term Pop Art was coined by British art critic Lawrence Alloway in a 1958 essay titled “The Arts and The Mass Media”.

The term refers to the use of imagery from popular culture such as advertisements, celebrities, and comic books. Pop Art is often seen as a reaction to abstract expressionism, which Abstract Expressionists saw as too elitist.

Pop Art was characterized by bright colors, bold outlines, and an overall graphic appearance. It embraced mass production techniques like silk-screening and offset printing.

Artists also used everyday objects such as cans, bottles and other consumer items in their works. This often humorous approach was seen by some people as a challenge to traditional notions of what constitutes art.

Pop Artists sought to challenge the idea of high art by creating works that were accessible to a wider audience. They wanted their work to reflect contemporary life, so they chose subject matter that was instantly recognizable to viewers. This included things like movies stars, everyday objects and cartoon characters.

Pop Art also marked a shift from Abstract Expressionism’s focus on emotion and personal expression to one of irony and social commentary. Pop Artists used irony and satire to make commentary on popular culture, consumerism, and politics.

Why Is It Called Pop Art?

Pop Art is called Pop Art because it takes inspiration from popular culture such as advertisements, celebrities, comic books and everyday objects. It is distinct from other forms of art because it uses these elements in a humorous way while making social commentary or political statements at the same time. Its goal is to bring art into the public sphere by making it accessible to wider audiences than traditional high art forms like abstract expressionism had done before.