Attached is the image of the art in question; My Bed, by Tracey Emin. My Bed is a work by the English artist Tracey Emin. First created in 1998, it was exhibited at the Tate Gallery in 1999 as one of the shortlisted works for the Turner Prize. It consisted of her bed with bedroom objects in a dishevelled state and gained much media attention. The idea for My Bed was inspired by a sexual yet depressive phase in the artist’s life when she had remained in bed for four days without eating or drinking anything but alcohol. When she looked at the vile, repulsive mess that had accumulated in her room, she suddenly realized what she had created. Emin ardently defended My Bed against critics who treated it as a farce and claimed that anyone could exhibit an unmade bed. To these claims, the artist retorted, “Well, they didn’t, did they? No one had ever done that before.”
Speculate as to who the audience is for this particular piece.
Who are the gatekeepers that influence public consumption of the art? Who are they and what is their role (formal/informal, etc).
How does the setting impact viewership and participation in the arts?
Why do you like the piece? Connect this to Bourdieu’s framework in Distinction specifically on taste. Why do you like it and how has this interaction with art been fostered over time? How do your social characteristics influence your understanding and consumption of art?
What kinds of publics does this style of art appeal to? Why?