Friday, July 25, 2014

The Nature Of Kafkaesque Art

By Miranda Sweeney


Some writers strike a chord universally and their works have a lasting effect on humans and society. Franz Kafka wrote works that are still widely read today and his name is now used as an expressive adjective in language. A bizarre, surreal situation with a sense of unease and potential danger and yet with which people can identify is when this type of adjective is used. Kafkaesque art is art that fits this description.

The works of Kafka were marked by a disorientating, sometimes menacing complexity. He managed to combine great yearning together with a sense of impossibility and futility. Kafka himself did stark, graphic drawings infused with this same tension. Many of his drawings have ended up gracing the covers of his books.

The imagery used in his works is dark, whether this is a giant device used for torture and capital punishment by the military, a human turned into a huge insect or an artist starving himself to death. This dark imagery has also given artists on all sorts of art forms impetus. Their images reflect the alienation of man and his anxiety as he deals with a world that is dehumanized.

In a world Kafka presents where everything is subject to change, we are forced to consider the fact that we are subject to change too. Artists today produce intriguing paintings of insects with human characteristics or humans as machines or animals. Individuals experience anxiety and a lack of control due to being subjected to a dehumanized world where there are few answers.

Symbolism is important in any art and the work of Kafka is filled with it. For example, a cage symbolizes entrapment, alienation and isolation from others. The use of symbolism introduces mystery and offers the possibility of different interpretations. Those who enjoy this type of artistic expression are required to use their own imaginations to interpret what is represented.

Kafka was also known for his manipulation of language and use of ambiguity. This was often so pronounced that translators have difficulty translating his works. This use of ambiguity leads to readers searching for meaning. Paintings in this vein also need to be deciphered for hidden messages.

Many forms of art from music to photography have found inspiration in the works of Kafka. Struggle, isolation, despair and absurdity are all themes that have translated into other art forms. Even some computer games are considered Kafkaesque in vision.

The complexity of the works of Kafka invites us as readers to actively participate in interpreting them. His ambiguity, symbolism and the fact that he does not present answers is something we can relate to in a world that often does not have any answers for us. Whatever art form it takes, this type of expression forces us out of complacent viewing and makes us active participants in the search for meaning.




About the Author:



No comments:

Post a Comment