http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2829 A Rare Bird, A Strange Duck, One Funky Blog Sun, 20 Jul 2008 07:03:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2829#comment-71902 Self-Preservation and Job Security @ Ales Rarus Wed, 30 Apr 2008 18:57:24 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/?p=2829#comment-71902 [...] recent post, 96% of Ordinary People Know That Modern Art is Crap and Artists Are Pompous Narcissists, reminded me of the simple fact that every field is self-preservative. That is to say, of course [...] http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2829#comment-71778 Funky Dung Mon, 28 Apr 2008 13:00:17 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/?p=2829#comment-71778 You make a good point. Actually, similar thoughts had occurred to me after posting. However, what annoyed me most was the arrogant presumption that Tuymans' work is "important" and that people either ought to be "woken up" by it on their own or "educated" to properly appreciate it. I think that more often than not art should stand on its own in a free market of ideas and expressions. If it fails to move people, perhaps it's simply not moving. Art is indeed in the eye of the beholder. Sometimes, if the vast majority of eyes/visual cortices don't register what they behold as art, perhaps it isn't really art. Or, rather, it may be very poor art or art that only appeals to a small segment of the population. I can of course think of contrary cases based on my own biases (such as wondering how could anyone prefer Britney Spears over Pink Floyd), and I freely confess that contradiction and apparent hypocrisy. It's something I need to think about further, I guess.
I can of course think of contrary cases based on my own biases (such as wondering how could anyone prefer Britney Spears over Pink Floyd), and I freely confess that contradiction and apparent hypocrisy. It's something I need to think about further, I guess.]]> http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/archives/2829#comment-71762 Bitterman Mon, 28 Apr 2008 05:21:16 +0000 http://alesrarus.funkydung.com/?p=2829#comment-71762 You're rather unfair to art in general. For better or worse, art (and inevitably, art appreciation) is entirely dependent on both the audience and context. Yes, you can call much contemporary art "abstract, unappealing nonsense." But that sentiment is true of many art forms presented to a non-appreciative audience. The Japanese tea ceremony would probably be seen as slow, boring, snobbish crap to most people. But then, isn't Iron Maiden considered hellish noise to others? To some, romance writing is trite garbage. To others, science fiction is slacker daydreaming. I know people who see web comics as the highest possible art form. Others find art in a particularly snarky /. post. I don't think that art is one of those universal things that we all enjoy. Maybe there are fairly universal pieces of art that our society generally enjoys, but that doesn't mean that art is an entirely transcendental experience. Some stuff is going to work for some people and simply fail for others. That doesn't automatically make it bad art.
Yes, you can call much contemporary art "abstract, unappealing nonsense." But that sentiment is true of many art forms presented to a non-appreciative audience. The Japanese tea ceremony would probably be seen as slow, boring, snobbish crap to most people. But then, isn't Iron Maiden considered hellish noise to others? To some, romance writing is trite garbage. To others, science fiction is slacker daydreaming. I know people who see web comics as the highest possible art form. Others find art in a particularly snarky /. post.

I don't think that art is one of those universal things that we all enjoy. Maybe there are fairly universal pieces of art that our society generally enjoys, but that doesn't mean that art is an entirely transcendental experience. Some stuff is going to work for some people and simply fail for others. That doesn't automatically make it bad art.]]>