Representation

“Representation: Refers to that which is representational. Art historians once limited iconographical studies to art, but as a result of postmodern influences, the study and critique of many representations (e.g., visual examples drawn from popular culture, especially the mass media) have become increasingly important. The often mentioned ‘crisis of representation’ in the arts refers to current dilemmas regarding the values and biases always present in visual depictions and yet masking as accurate realities.”

Excerpted from: Diamond, David G. The Bulfinch Pocket Dictionary of Art Terms. Boston: Little Brown, 1992.