Wikipedia:Reference desk/Archives/Miscellaneous/2016 February 14

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February 14

History of abstract expressionism

Is there any history of how this movement became a global phenomenon and also written from the perspective that as art it doesn't have merit? From searching there's a lot on how CIA money promoted its further glory after it caught on but I'm more curious about the early stages of its rise before the CIA took an active interest. Muzzleflash (talk) 09:17, 14 February 2016 (UTC)

Abstract Impressionism is an art movement originating in New York City in the 1940’s. Robert Coates coined the term ‘abstract impressionism’ in 1946 in one of his critiques of the new artwork. The most important predecessor of abstract impressionism is Surrealism, which also emphasizes spontaneous and subconscious creation. See [1]. The Wikipedia article Abstract expressionism has an extensive section about its history. Reports that the CIA financed and organized the promotion of American abstract expressionists in the 1950s have appeared but have also been rejected as historical revisionism. The OP may be looking for opinion essays about hostility to abstraction in art, such as this example "modern abstract art is a disgraceful mockery of all that is right and good in the art realm". AllBestFaith (talk) 10:17, 14 February 2016 (UTC)

Duck Penis Question

Why do ducks have corkscrew penises that hinder mating when successful evolution would seem to depend on passing on ones genes? 109.207.58.2 (talk) 12:47, 14 February 2016 (UTC)

Female birds have an all-in-one entrance called a cloaca. It's very rare for birds to reproduce by means of penetration of the cloaca: the sperm is usually deposited on or near the entrance.

I'm curious to know why the OP thinks a corkscrew penis hinders mating. I've not noticed a shortage of ducks, they seem to be a very successful family. Richard Avery (talk) 14:02, 14 February 2016 (UTC)

See Female Ducks’ Twisty Tracts Defend Against Screwy Males quoting recent research. It seems that the twisty male shape allows for a great deal of extension at the appropriate moment, but that female ducks (Muscovy ducks at any rate) have evolved parts that may spiral in the opposite direction so that they can prevent penetration by unwelcome males. Alansplodge (talk) 16:36, 14 February 2016 (UTC)

A more detailed report on the same research is at Yale Scientific - Unraveling the Mysteries of Duck Mating. Alansplodge (talk) 16:44, 14 February 2016 (UTC)

Penis#Birds goes into a fair amount of detail on the subject, including an appropriate photograph. See also Mallard Song. Tevildo (talk) 16:42, 14 February 2016 (UTC)

As for "Why?", see mate selection. The female's children (and therefore her genes) have most chance of surviving if they get the genes of the best possible mate, so the female has an incentive to keep the less desirable males away (and in turn, the males attempt to overcome these defenses). Smurrayinchester 12:51, 15 February 2016 (UTC)

Jaguar model

What Jaguar model is this one? Took it today and reverse image search looks unhelpful. Thanks once again. Brandmeister^talk 18:19, 14 February 2016 (UTC)

It looks like a Jaguar XJ (XJ40) of some sort. -- zzuuzz ^(talk) 18:28, 14 February 2016 (UTC)

Confirm above, compare File:1989.jaguar.xj6.arp.jpg. Our article points out that both chrome and black window surrounds were available. Nanonic (talk) 18:31, 14 February 2016 (UTC)

I also felt it's some 1980s Jaguar. Brandmeister^talk 19:04, 14 February 2016 (UTC)

It's a Jaguar XJ40. The round headlamps suggest it's an XJ6 model, not a Daimler or Sovereign (the Jaguar badge and hood ornament confirm it's not a Daimler), while the lattice wheels suggest a later model, maybe 1992-3. - Cucumber Mike (talk) 11:50, 15 February 2016 (UTC)