Challenges of Modern Artists and Restitution of Collection

There are 3 parts of the assignment:
1. Living as an Artist in the Modern Period
Once the traditional sources of artistic patronage are removed, the modern artist faces a difficult situation. The independent artistic practitioner seeks to express his or her own voice, but what happens if one’s ideas and approaches are avant-garde and not easily digestible, and therefore go against the grain of dominant institutions? What if the artist’s work is so experimental that it is not widely accessible and thus not commercially viable? What does it mean when the artist is challenging the very power structures that might have financially supported his or her work?
Where does this leave the artist? To find “enlighted” patrons? To be independently wealthy? To hope to recruit like-minded supporters in a Kickstarter campaign? To starve?
These are the challenges that face the modern artist, thanks to the democratic ideals that inspired the French Revolution. What are your thoughts on this challenge, as an artist and/or musician? What do you think are the best ways for an artist to continue to create their work while also still making a living?
Your post should be two to three paragraphs long. You may also upload descriptive text, a YouTube link, or an MP3 file.
2. World War II and Restitution
The restitution of World War II era assets is a complicated business. Please watch the following profile of Claude Cassirer and his family’s Pisarro. https://www(dot)youtube(dot)com/watch?v=-cp3X2YShCU
For review:
The Pissarro was sold by Cassirer’s grandmother in 1939 for $360 to escape Berlin.
The painting was auctioned in Berlin in 1943.
It was sold to a collector in St. Louis in 1952.
Cassirer’s family received a small compensation from the German government in 1958.
The painting was sold to Thyssen-Bornemisza in 1976.
The Thyssen-Bornemisza Collection opens in Madrid in a joint venture with Spanish Government in 1992.
Claude Cassirer discovers the whereabouts of painting in 2000.
Cassirer files a suit against the Kingdom of Spain in 2005.
If you were in charge of the Thyssen-Bornemisza collection in Madrid, would you return the painting to Claude Cassirer and his family? Please discuss your reasoning.
Your post should be two to three paragraphs long.
3. Let's talk about revolution. When you think of upheaval, protest, declaration of change—what comes to your mind? Choose three (songs, paintings, or Web sites) and inlcude the links where you found them.
Your post should be two to three (well-developed) paragraphs long. You may also upload descriptive text, images, a YouTube link, or an MP3 file.