You Call That Art?

ABC News ^ | John Stossel

[King Prout]

modern art is, by and large, an enormous practical joke; perpetrated by those without talent upon those without taste.

[stylin19a]

No.......

THIS is art

[flashbunny]

New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (R) was annoyed by the criticism. "Nobody's criticizing this. Everybody likes it. And this is certainly art," he said.

Has bloomberg ever said ANYTHING that hasn't made him look like a complete idiot???

[camle]

the purpose of modern art is to enrich the "in crowd" at the expense of the national endowment of the arts (taxpayers)

[Republicanprofessor]

ping.

[Luddite Patent Counsel]

The argument as to whether or not something is or is not "art" seems stupid to me. One of my painting profs back in the day subscribed to a view of art that still makes sense to me. He taught us that "art" is a quantitative, rather than qualitative, term. Art is a function, i.e., something is "art" if its function is to offer its aesthetic characteristics for observation. If we set forth criteria for defining "good" art vs. "bad" art, we can argue about the merits of a particular work. But anything can be analyzed as "art".

[ladtx]

"It has good composition. I think it has good depth and space."

I'll have to memorize that line so I can use it the next time I'm at some hoity-toity art show. It says everything while at the same time saying nothing at all.

[billorites]

[LIConFem]

"Has bloomberg ever said ANYTHING that hasn't made him look like a complete idiot???"

I met him briefly about 13 or 14 years ago. If memory serves, he said, "Nice to meet you". It's pretty much been down hill from there...

[GSlob]

"...On being shown a drawing by a child with excuses that the boy had started learning only recently, Michelangelo answered: "It is obvious"..."[Vasari]
The standards, both for the artists and for the critics, have gone downhill ever since.

[RexBeach]

"The function of art is to make rich people feel more important."

You know, you might something there, Skippy.

[randog]

"It has good composition. I think it has good depth and space."

I'll have to memorize that line so I can use it the next time I'm at some hoity-toity art show. It says everything while at the same time saying nothing at all.

Good idea. I know nothing about sports; actually, I should say I don't know enough about sports to analyze it. If I find myself having to watch a game (at a bar or some party), I'll drop phrases like, "He really gives 110%"; "They've gotta bring their defense if they want to win"; "He knows how to handle the ball"; "They're a good ball team", etc.

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On another note, go to the ABC website link and take their art test. I honestly tried to pick "true" art from the fake stuff and failed miserably.

[Tuba Guy]

" ....... those without taste."

Whachutalkabou' ???

press 2 for English

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[Republicanprofessor]

when a more realistic looking landscape, done by elephants with paintbrushes in Thailand, is worth much less?

Elephants painting realistic images? Now THAT I find hard to believe.

I'm frustrated because I want to see the images they passed around. Malevich's piece I can visualize: yes, a big black circle. But it was one of the first times art was totally removed from a realistic base, so the thought was brand new (and often there is some subtlety of balance, but it's hard to discuss without seeing the image).

My problem with the 4-year olds' paintings is that they can't have much content. Yes, they may have pretty space and color. But what are they saying? That's what make a good work to me (and Pollock was "saying" plenty). What can a 4-year old say about life experience? Give me a break.

And here's where some FReepers will agree with me: too much junk passes as good art nowadays. We may easily disagree about where the lines are drawn, but obviously the experts they tagged in the article are not as great as they purport to be.

[Mr. Jeeves]

Go here, you'll feel much better. ;)

[One Proud Dad]

Modern art is an escape and livelihood for those who cannot earn a living with a real career.

My ex's sister is an interior designed who prided herself in her artsy tastes. Last I heard she was a bi-sexual, non-armpit shaving leech still drawing her inane pictures.

Geez I hated that b__ch she argued against everything I held dear, Reagan, strong military, cutting welfare and governemnt in general, stopping unchecked immigration etc...

[LanPB01]

I get really annoyed around the time of the NCAA tournament because so many people suddenly become experts on college basketball. Since I work at a university, I'm surrounded by students that talk about this stuff for days on end, and it's apparent most of them wouldn't know a basketball if it got smashed off their nose.

[Calusa]

How do critics and curators decide which is art?

Its all about PC, so called Art Councils, clicque-ish peer review committees and amazing amounts of tax payers money looking for a good home. A good friend of mine has been awarded many tens of thousands of dollars in grants. Her work looks like comm satellites made out chicken fencing and baling wire. Her tax status was actually changed from artist to hobbyist. I gotta admit I have actually seen her sell one piece. But her greatest talent is writing grants and ingratiating herself with her peers who sit on Arts in Public Places review committees. Some jurisdictions mandate that a percent or two of every public works budget be mandated to subsidize 'art'.

[LibFreeOrDie]

Back in the 1950's my family went to an art show on Boston Common. At one abstract painting, my little brother blurted "I'm only in kindergarten, and I can paint better than that!' To which an elderly Boston Brahmin lady replied, "Young man, I think you could, too!"