Final answer:
Joseph Beuys's work is autobiographic due to his personal connection to the materials he uses and the themes he explores, which reflect his experiences and worldview. His approach to art involves elements of shamanism and critiques the excessive rationality of modern society that he saw as leading to atrocities, like the Holocaust.
Step-by-step explanation:
The autobiographic nature of Joseph Beuys's work stems from his use of materials and themes that are deeply personal and reflective of his own experiences. Beuys's work, characterized by the use of natural materials like fat, wax, and felt, is often considered an extension of himself, as these materials were supposedly instrumental in saving his life during World War II. His practice is seen as a form of shamanism, a healing process not just for the artist but for society, countering what Beuys perceived as the destructive rationality of modern society which led to the horrors of the Holocaust.
For Beuys, these materials do not serve just an aesthetic function but rather convey a deeper meaning related to human existence and imperfections. His performance art pieces, such as 'I Like America and America Likes Me', challenge traditional art by making the viewer engage with real, sometimes discomforting experiences. This way, Beuys's artworks become not only autobiographical but also aim to provoke a deeper understanding of the psychological and emotional human condition.