7/28/2014

The Role Of Kafkaesque Art

By Miranda Sweeney


There are certain writers that are widely read and reread. Their works resound with us to the extent that their names are made into adjectives and used to describe concepts, events and art forms. Franz Kafka was a writer like this and Kafkaesque art reflects qualities found in his works such as alienation and situations that are surreal and yet affect us intimately.

There was a tension in the works of Kafka that is found in much of the work of modern artists. He was able to combine a sense of yearning with futility and impossibility. He was a writer but he used to draw as well and many of his doodles expressed the same angst found in his writing. His stark drawings often grace the covers of his books.

His stories are dark and yet humanity manages to identify deeply with them. The strong and absurd images, such as a man becoming an enormous insect or an artist starving in a cage have inspired the imagery expressed by many artists today. The menace of an image like a giant machine used for capital punishment and its implications has also sparked other artistic expression like this.

Metamorphosis is a work of Kafka that has a great influence. It deals with the possibility of transmogrifying from one form to another. When a human being is changed into a large insect, he faces various conflicts. We inevitably start to think about change and our own identity. This kind of thought stimulates artistic expression. We see paintings where humans are depicted as insects and others wear insects have human qualities.

The stories of Kafka are filled with symbolism. The symbolism often lies in the material objects placed in the narrative. In one of his stories, for example, the cage in which the hunger artist performs, is symbolic of his alienation from society. This is another reason why so many readers re-read his stories multiple times and have various interpretations. The same applies to artworks of this nature. They allow viewers to use their own imagination in interpreting them.

Ambiguity or double meanings are another way to introduce suspense and uncertainty. Kafka was brilliant at manipulating language to introduce ambiguity. Paintings of this nature have the same ambiguity and one can look at them time and time again to try and decipher hidden meanings.

The themes found in the works of Kafka have infiltrated into so many areas of our modern world. Photographers, artists, musicians and even game players have found inspiration in his works, whether directly or indirectly. The themes of struggle, despair, isolation, yearning and absurdity are all presented in different ways by these artists but the central concepts are the same.

One of the most important aspects of works like this, whatever form they come in, is that they force us to face the complexities and ambiguities of our world. This is a world where we often do not have answers and things are often not clear. Such works help us to live with the complexities of our modern existence. Works like this are available for purchase online.




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