Is it Art?

[humphrey_clarke]

"Am I being a bit too cynical?", I puzzled to myself as I stared incredulously at the sculpture in front of me. The work of modern art insulting my gaze seemed comprehensively devoid of any merit whatsoever. And yet, I reflected, underapreciation of art has been an unhealthy characteristic of mankind for centuries. Perhaps if the rowdy regiments of

Comments

[jenny0]

I went to the opening of the Jepson Center, the new modern art wing of the Telfair Museum of Art in Savannah, a couple of months ago. Gretchen and I were wandering around an area with a bunch of video installation stuff when I saw a box with a bunch of wires coming out of it. I was standing there trying to figure out what exactly it meant when Gretchen came over and told me it was an empty mount for something that hadn't been installed yet. Damn you, Modern Art!

Also...not that I would ever be an art history pedant or anything, but you know that painting has neither Trojans or Turks, right? Or swooning maidens, either, really.

[opera_hat]

...and it's neo-Classical, not Baroque. I only know this because I did an Art Hist. project on Jacques-Louis David. I think that was the only module to which I paid any attention in my entire time at University.

[humphrey_clarke]

So much pedandentry!. Here by way of apology is the greatest painting ever produced. Now this is art as it should be!!

[opera_hat]

Ingres was possibly the most shameless lech that ever painted.

[stubbleupdate]

In Soviet Russia, art critiques you!

[humphrey_clarke]

Russia and Nazi Germany were great when they supressed the modernists. At least some totalitaian regimes have good taste in art and architecture.

[gillyg]

I was enjoying the sunshine outside the city hall in Leeds last week, and two elderly women sat down on the bench next to me, squinting critically at the Henry Moore sculpture in front of them. "Can't stand rubbish like that" said one. "Aye, Yorkshire Sculpture Park's full of the bloody stuff," replied the other. "Should melt it all down for scrap!" A classic moment of art reaching out to touch the people...

[humphrey_clarke]

Actually, gangs of enterprising criminals have been stealing modern sculptures and melting them down for scrap metal. Sadly they keep the molds for these things so they can be readily replaced

[anonymous]

Somehow I wound up on here despite having no clue who you are. I then proceeded to read a few of your entries, which is a pretty serious accomplishment for me considering my impatience with livejournals. Anyhow you should be a writer. If you can convince a random stranger to read your thoughts on work, you'd probably be able to sell a couple books.

Cheers.

[humphrey_clarke]

Cheers. You've just persuaded me to start writing it again. Apologies for the long absence.

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[anonymous]

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