The Art of Influence: Student Films

In the spirit of artistic influence, the CMA hosts a screening of USC student short films created in response to featured exhibition Lee Alexander McQueen & Ann Ray: Rendez-Vous. Taught by Professor Carleen Maur, these fledgling filmmakers are enrolled in an advanced experimental media class in which they expand beyond traditional narrative forms of moviemaking. Free as part of Free First Thursday at the CMA.

These films are examples of the ways art is profoundly influenced by other art. Remix, tributes, and homage all speak to the styles and movements that represent the history of art inspiring new art. Artists often pay homage to their predecessors through references or reinterpretations of iconic artworks. This can take the form of direct homages, parodies, or reimagining classical pieces in a contemporary context. These acts of homage acknowledge the influence of the original work and celebrate its significance in the history of art, often transcending its original medium. Painters might be influenced by literature, music, or cinema, and vice versa, just as McQueen included direct influences from Renaissance paintings, films, and other art forms in his work. These interconnections between different art forms enrich the creative landscape.