About this video

• Video Title: Concepts and Problems in the Visual Arts, Lecture H3: Timelines of art history
• Channel: James Elkins
• Speakers: James Elkins
• Duration: 00:22:40

Overview

This lecture explores various types of timelines used to represent art history, moving beyond conventional linear representations. It discusses textbook timelines, experimental approaches like non-linear scales and tree diagrams, and timelines created by artists as artworks or to propose alternative histories. The lecture also touches on multi-dimensional and data-driven timelines, encouraging viewers to consider more imaginative ways to visualize art history.

Key takeaways

• Conventional Timelines: Most art history textbooks use linear, chronological timelines, which can be supplemented by online scrolling versions with links and images. However, these can become overwhelming in scope, like the Metropolitan Museum of Art's extensive Heilbrunn Timeline.
• Non-Linear Timelines: Some timelines adjust their scale to expand or contract based on the density of events or importance of a period, reflecting how art historians perceive time as elastic, with periods like the Renaissance or the 1960s demanding more detailed focus.
• Map-like Timelines: Early timelines, dating back to the 18th century, incorporated geographical elements, where the size of a culture's representation on the timeline corresponded to its territorial expansion, blending map and timeline concepts.
• Branching and Tree Timelines: These represent art history as a network of influences and connections, diverging from linear progression. Examples include Alfred Barr's famous chart of modern art and Miguel Covarrubias's tree diagram of artistic lineage, which present alternative narratives and relationships.
• Artist-Created Timelines: Artists sometimes create timelines as artworks, such as Francis Picabia's Dada timeline that incorporates machine-like imagery, or Tate Modern's participatory timeline inviting public contributions to alternative art histories.
• Stylistic and Conceptual Timelines: Some timelines mimic the style of the art they represent (e.g., a graphic design timeline in Swiss Style) or incorporate theoretical and political contexts, like R.H. Hertzlein's diagram that maps art theory, consumer art, and politics.
• Data-Driven and Experimental Timelines: Modern approaches include using software to map connections between artists based on Wikipedia cross-references, creating multi-dimensional timelines for complex narratives (like the TV series "Dark"), and looping or graphical representations that challenge traditional linearity.

The lecture discusses several experimental approaches to creating timelines:

• Non-linear timelines: These timelines expand or contract to emphasize certain periods, reflecting how art historians perceive time as elastic.
• Map timelines: These combine temporal progression with geographical representation, where cultural expansion influences the space occupied on the timeline.
• Branching and tree timelines: These visualize art history as a network of influences and connections rather than a strict chronological sequence.
• Artist-created timelines: These are timelines conceived as artworks themselves, often proposing alternative histories or incorporating unique visual styles.
• Multi-dimensional timelines: These attempt to represent complex narratives with multiple plot lines and temporal shifts, akin to visualizing intricate stories or datasets.
• Data-driven timelines: These are generated using algorithms and databases, such as mapping Wikipedia entries for artists based on cross-references.