Reality tv-shows.. They appear to be a recent phenomenon..
gaining immense popularity with programmes like 
Big Brother and Idols in the early 2000's.. 
but if that is the case, what do shows 
like Keeping up with the Kardashians.. 
have in common with 17th century artists like 
Vermeer, Jan Steen and Pieter de Hooch?
Reality tv-shows have been around almost 
as long as television itself.. 
So, the Kardashians and Jenners were certainly not the first 
in the Reality tv genre.. 
but they have perfected it.
A frequently asked question surrounding them is: 
Well, they're multi-million dollar personal brands..
with hundreds of million of Instagram 
and Snapchat followers between them. 
Besides so-called influencers, they're also entrepreneurs..
mainly in fashion and beauty products- and not the least: 
philanthropists, supporting numerous charities all over the world. 
But most important for us: the Kardashians and Jenners have been..
shaping the social media landscape for years now.. 
utilizing its full potential and allowing their 
followers an ever closer look into their world. 
It appears that they're tapping into a basic human need that we all possess: 
It allows us to identify with them, even if they're 
living completely different lives than our own. 
Why? Their lives may differ from ours..
 
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but their emotions don't. 
And the Kardashians and Jenners offer something extra: 
A glimpse into the world of glitter and 
glamor and the extravagantly rich.
Watching other people.. that is exactly 
what we do in art museums as well. 
Most of the people depicted in the paintings we see in museums.. 
just like the Kardashians and Jenners - were very wealthy. 
Simply commissioning a portrait was about 
a year's wages for a common worker. 
These portraits give us a glimpse of the lifestyle 
of the rich and famous from back in the day. 
However, it's pretty hard to identify with the 
different characters hanging on the museum walls.. 
as they are not displaying any emotion whatsoever. 
Fun fact: smiling on your portrait was simply not done. 
However, there is a genre that will allow 
you to identify with its characters: 
Painted depictions of people engaged in everyday activities.. 
already made their appearance in 16th-century Flemish paintings.. 
such as in Pieter Balten's 'Saint Martin's Day Kermis'. 
Yet, paintings of seemingly daily life, became 
truly popular in the 17th century. 
Many works by specialists in this genre, 
such as Jan Steen in particular.. 
as well as Johannes Vermeer and Pieter de 
Hooch are found in the Rijksmuseum.
One of De Hooch's typical features is an open 
door through which he seems to invite the viewer. 
As if he's saying 'come on in, enter this house'. 
Quite literally giving us the idea 
that we are welcome to look around. 
But, things are not often what they seem. 
Some paintings contain salacious motifs 
or had a moral lesson in them. 
If you want to learn more about these hidden symbols, 
check out our episode about memes.
Link in the description.
When we take a closer look at the work of Vermeer, 
one thing stands out: 
As a viewer, you're kind of spying on the people. 
He often places his subjects behind some kind of barrier.
This effective method to draw more attention to the 
subject is called 'framing within a frame'..
and is still used by cinematographers today. 
This all contributes to the feeling that you're 
actually spying on their daily activities. 
Vermeer was the master of the daily life genre.. 
and The Milkmaid was one of his absolute masterpieces. 
But, what's so captivating about her? 
And how has she become one of the most famous woman in art history? 
One word probably sommes this up best: 
Serenity.
Serenity is what makes a Vermeer, a Vermeer. 
Everything in this painting contributes to this feeling of serenity: 
That soft light seeping in from the window.. 
just enough thanks to the small crack in the middle.. 
the hundreds of colorful dots that play over 
the surface of the objects on the table.. 
Everything in this painting, including the milkmaid herself.. 
is perfectly still, except for one thing: 
the small stream of milk that is pouring into the bowl. 
The serenity of the daily life subjects 
of Vermeer are in sharp contrast.. 
with the chaotic brothel- and bar scenes of Jan Steen.. 
filled with prostitutes and drunks. 
But all of these daily life paintings had one thing in common: 
They gave us a sneak peek into a world that was not our own.. 
and by doing so, allowed us to learn more about our own lives. 
We can only reflect on our own behavior by looking closely at others.. 
whether it is on tv, in a museum or in real life. 
We love watching other people because it 
helps us understand who we really are. 
But what do you think? Is This Art? 
 
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Let us know whether you think Keeping up with 
the Kardashians is art or not.. 
and let us know your suggestions for future episodes of Is This Art? 
Thanks for watching!
