The purpose of this study is too examine the relationship between Neo-pop and pop culture, and Kidult that are contemporary arts, and to establish a art historic implication on which kidult image is reflected to Neo-pop. Despite the propagation of pop...
The purpose of this study is too examine the relationship between Neo-pop and pop culture, and Kidult that are contemporary arts, and to establish a art historic implication on which kidult image is reflected to Neo-pop. Despite the propagation of popular image such as cartoons or toys, some regard this as a fad derivated from the time, or an imitation of pop-art. This study commenced from the question on what implication kidult image would have on Neo-pop, and how art communicates with popular culture.
Neo-pop, a contemporary art, originates from pop art and utilizes popular culture actively. Based on this idea, the relationship between Neo-pop and kidult has been examined. Neo-pop embraces various genres related to subcultures (such as character, avatar, Kitsch, costume play, pictogram, childish and fairy tale image), among which this study paid more attention to light, childish subjects and entertaining factors. This point exhibited similarities to the hobbies and tendencies pursued by kids who are like adults. Genrally, those who study kidults proposed the form after classifying them into 'past form' and 'present form' according to their consumption pattern. However, the increment of early adult-becoming and gradual expansion of kidult culture is expected, and thus a 'future form' is added to elucidate its features. Kidult image is classified into 7 forms with the visual image in the center(pictogram, graffiti, cartoon, character, animation, fantasy, illuesention), and its features are analyzed. Visual kidult image exhibits the characteristics of child-becoming, entertainment, and evading from reality. This has become the standard to explore the kidult image in Neo-pop. The art pieces that reflect kidult image commences from popular aesthetics with the acceptance of post modernism and images. According to the analysis of the features demonstrated by examples, it can be divided into superficial kidult image acceptance and content-based kidult image. The former implies social communication, while the latter demonstrates individualistic expression appealing to popular sympathy.
The result of this study confirmed that Neo-pop is a art form that mixes and accepts popular culture after the artist experiences the popular culture by himself. However, viewing Neo-pop in the perspective of post modernism, it cannot be fully agreed that it is a recreation of pop art. It addresses to the public with easy and light factors, and it has been confirmed that kidult is the major motive in the procedure of approaching popular aesthetics quintessentially. The reflection of kidult image in Neo-pop was represented in the form of art's pointing to popular art while communicating with the pop culture directly. The traditional aesthetics that set certain distance with the public is avoided, but rather, it was more meaningful to expand sympathy among generations through light and entertaining factors. This can be regarded an accomplishment of overcoming the limitations of pop art that failed to penetrate into popular culture.
Finally, it is expected that the result of this study can establish Neo-pop as a new contemporary art form, setting it free from the belittling view that it is mere imitation of pop art, or the narrow definition of Kidult-pop. Therefore, it is proposed that consistent discussions and ceaseless research by the art critics is required to establish popular aesthetics systematically.