Cultural Artifact Analysis

The artifact that this learner has selected to analyze is the ‘Full Fathom 5’ painting by Jackson Pollock. Pollock within his paintings used a technique called the “drip technique” (n.a., 2022). Full Fathom Five was created in 1947, and a variety of materials were used in conjunction with the creation of this artifact. The materials consist of canvas, left unstretched, paint, with a mixture of embedded materials such as “nails, tacks, buttons, keys, coins, a torn cigarette, matches, and paint tube tops,” (n.a., 2022). Additionally, poetry is included in this painting as well. It is assumed that the title of the painting is derived from a quote from ‘The Tempest’ by William Shakespeare, (n.a., 2022). The draw of this artifact to this learner is the mystery of the painting mostly—the fact that the painting and development have never been fully explained, however, there are various different assessments for this artifact such as stating that Full Fathom Five is a “metaphor for the human mind,” (Pollock Prints, 2022). It shines on the surface, but upon further inspection, it will reveal the dark and twisted reality of the human mind, (Pollock Prints, 2022).

Historical & Artistic Contexts

“Full fathom five thy father lies, of his bones coral made, those are pearls that were his eyes, nothing of him that does fade, but doth suffer a sea-change into something rich and strange. Sea-nymphs hourly ring his knell: ding-dong, hark! Now I hear them—ding-dong, bell,” (Shakespeare, 1623).

Through the year 1938 Pollock’s work consisted mostly of “small landscapes, and figurative scenes such as ‘Going West’” (O’Connor, 2022). However, in 1937 Pollock began psychiatric treatment for alcoholism, “and he suffered a nervous breakdown in 1938,” (O’Connor, 2022). It is noticed that after this treatment, and a nervous breakdown that Pollock’s paintings became more abstract—within Pollock’s continued treatment it is even shared that psychoanalysts used Pollock’s own paintings in his treatment (O’Connor, 2022). In 1943 Pollock was signed into an art gallery in New York, in 1945 Pollock married another painter (who helped with creating much-needed stability for Pollock), and ‘Full Fathom Five’ was the first of many paintings used in the process of pouring paint onto a canvas (O’Connor, 2022). According to O’Connor (2022) Pollock is described as gentle and contemplative when he was sober, and violent when he was found drunk—it could be hypothesized that when ‘Full Fathom Five’ was created, it was symbolic of what Pollock felt when he was drunk. As an artist that never sold a painting for more than $10,000 in his lifetime, “he was considered hard pressed for cash,” (O’Connor, 2022), therefore drinking may have been his escape from the stress, and at times he may have thought (as an avid reader) that the idea of death of intriguing… not necessarily alluring, but intriguing. Pollock used items from his pocket lint in this painting, and that could easily be assumed to be a way of articulating the simplest things in life can have profound meaning if looked at in a different light—such as a button covered in paint, and hidden beneath a poem and other lint, it is simple but beautiful.

Cultural Values

Within Pollock’s life there are also inferences about a perceived homosexual lifestyle that he led, and what could have meant social shunning and death to most people before coming more widely accepted could have been yet another reason for ‘Full Fathom Five,’ to show that while Pollock is still such an ordinary person, he hurts because of something that deemed not good or not right in a culture’s values. In New York in the 1940’s the aesthetic, or spiritual value of a culture being homosexual could have been looked at as unpleasing, disgusting, or unholy in a religious aspect. These two values, aesthetic value meaning, “beauty, harmony, visual appeal, etc.,” (Throsby & Zednik, 2014), and spiritual relating to religion, would have not accepted Pollock’s assumed acceptance and participation in homosexuality—which could have additionally led to his drinking, nervous breakdowns, and psychiatric treatment. Pollock possibly expressed his level of disdain for these unaccepting culture values about the lifestyle he wished to live.

While, this learner does not understand the homosexuality perspective, this learner can speak to the religious or the spiritual value of cultural “norms.” This learner does not either accept nor unaccept an individuals homosexuality, but rather accepts an individuals intentions, motives, feelings, and humanness instead of what can be seen as traits to be judged from. This learner is religious, but this learner also believes that no one should feel judged by anyone other than by a higher power. This learner is not within sin, or flaw, therefore it is not this learners place or position to judge another—therefore, if Pollock had been judged and mistreated in his lifetime for his life choices, the individuals who made him feel that way will likely suffer just as greatly later in life, or after this life. Experiencing many near death experiences, this learner can find the beauty hidden in this painting and can see dark faces and movement within.

This learners response to this painting has been much shaped by a career in law enforcement. While law enforcement was the dream career for this learner, it also turned out to be much darker, and hallower than any career this learner anticipated. As a Marine Corps Veteran, this learner anticipated certain challenges, but what this learner did not anticipate was crime done between law enforcement officers that goes unseen and unnoticed and is therefore brushed under the rug. The harassment, bullying, discrimination, retaliation and more done to those that are their own… is hideous, and cruel. The darkness that lies behind the thin blue line is truly remarkable, while there are many great officers, there are also many officers that are perceived as great but go home and commit crimes upon their family that never see the light of day. From an independent eye, this leaner can objectively view each parties perspective, and understand that there is no role in judgement from us… only understanding, love and acceptance, regardless which side of the fence you fall unto.

References

N.A. 2022. Full Fathom Five, 1947 by Jackson Pollock. Jackson-Pollock.org. https://www.jackson-pollock.org/full-fathom-five.jsp

O’Connor, F. V. 2022. Jackson Pollock. Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jackson-Pollock

Pollock Prints. 2022. Full Fathom Five by Jackson Pollock. Pollock Prints. https://pollockprints.org/full-fathom-five/#:~:text=Full%20Fathom%20Five%20is%20a,and%20dark%20mind%20of%20humanity.

Shakespeare, W. 1623. The Tempest. Poetry Lovers Page. https://www.poetryloverspage.com/poets/shakespeare/full_fathom_five.html

Throsby, D., & Zednik, A. 2014. Handbook of the Economics of Art and Culture. Science Direct.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/social-sciences/cultural-values