Why it's OK not to like modern art

The Times (UK) ^ | 5/8/03 | Julian Spalding

[AlbionGirl]

I don't have the independent twin I-beam suspension on my disbelief that it takes to believe that in La Bohéme, Mimi can still sing while dying of tuberculosis. :)

You have no idea how hard I laughed when I read this. Excellent!

I was born in Italy in '56, came to the US in '58, returned for the first time in '68 and spent the summer. That was my first intro to Opera. All the while I'm agreeing with my relatives about how beautiful Opera is, yada, yada, yada meanwhile under my breath I'm uttering all those swear words my friend Agnes taught me. You know like 'holy s@#t, where's Vlad the Impaler when you need him?'

Then after a 29 year hiatus I returned to Italy in '97, pleaded the Plague when asked if I wanted to attend a showing of Aida (sp?).

Made my last trek in '00, stayed for 3 weeks, relaxed, visited the Jewish quarter of Rome, took in the Cistine Chapel (who can concentrate with your neck in that position?), 'felt' the Appian Way and generally had a very good time. And nobody asked if I wanted to go to the Opera.

[upcountryhorseman]

Remember: " Form follows Function". the building has to function for human use first.

[wardaddy]

Ridiculous isn't it?

[summer]

It's the stuff that is deliberately offensive or purposely ugly that I strongly object to. It's not as if there's an excess of beauty in the world after all. Why deliberately create ugliness?

Yeah, I agree. Art has the potential to inspire, inform, heal, and do so much good in the world. Yet, when people do something like the author of your article described (place human waste in a can and sell it as "art"), I think all they are really doing is seeking five minutes of fame for themselves. Unfortunately, they usually get it.

[summer]

Dianna, check out this crash course in art history on THIS ART HISTORY SITE.

[jalisco555]

Yeah, I agree. Art has the potential to inspire, inform, heal, and do so much good in the world. Yet, when people do something like the author of your article described (place human waste in a can and sell it as "art"), I think all they are really doing is seeking five minutes of fame for themselves. Unfortunately, they usually get it.

It's not just fame they get. There's money in canned dung as well, it seems. And some of that money is yours and mine, via govt. support of this stuff. The really unfortunate part is that this sort of thing tends to crowd out worthwile art, which has trouble finding an audience. Well, this too shall pass, I suppose.

[summer]

I do think it will pass, and new and better art is coming... :)

[summer]

PS Good to hear from you again, too, jalisco555. :)

[jalisco555]

Always a pleasure, Summer.

[jalisco555]

I managed to go decades without ever seeing an opera. Then, about six years ago a friend browbeat me into going and I fell in love with it in about five minutes. I only wish it hadn't taken me so long to discover how beautiful opera is.

[summer]

Same here. :)!

[csvset]

In Paul Kos' "Tunnel" (1995), now at the Berkeley Art Museum, a tiny electric train engine whirls around inside a big wheel of cheese.

[jalisco555]

Have to admit that's funny. Unintentionally funny, probably, but funny nonetheless. I think the best way to make this sort of thing go away finally is through laughter and scorn.

[two23]

The best came first.

Centuries ago, art had a purpose. It recorded history for the illiterate masses, lavishly decorated places of worship, and preserved the likenesses of the "elite". Then came the camera, the literacy of the masses and the concept of art for the sake of "emotional response" (ie: shock, chaos, impression, and illusion). Altho I love the work of some modern artists, I do understand that art has come to be what it is because it's purpose has changed direction.

*******************

FWIW: A few weeks ago, I was following some links on the threat that America faces from the hard left and it's underlying ties to the communist agenda and here are a few items from the list of "goals" (for the purpose of degrading society and the individual character):

22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms."

23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art."

24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press.

[Conservative til I die]

Heh. That's pretty clever.

[summer]

I assume you are referring to that photo of the large bronze sculpture. Glad you liked it. :)

[Dianna]

Thanks so much Summer!

[fightu4it]

How many times have you looked at a work and then listened to or read the artist's discription of the piece?

Many times I have come away shaking my head in total confusion.

[summer]

My pleasure, Dianna. :)

[jalisco555]

How many times have you looked at a work and then listened to or read the artist's discription of the piece?

Many times I have come away shaking my head in total confusion.

I remember reading about the Mapplethorpe exhibit trial in Cincinnati. Expert witnesses for the defense would describe the "artist's" use of lighting or perspective or subject placement or some such. It was enough to make you forget the work in question was a picture of a man with a bullwhip up his anus. The jury was completely bamboozled. I later read that the experts all had a good laugh at how they fooled the yokels.