Digital BW, The Print

Tyler, 
I am struck by what you wrote.  (that is not bad)  It got me thinking. 

I am thinking of the times when I saw conceptual artists (some good and some bad...personal opinion) and the times I saw mainstream artists (both low and high stream)...and the thought that those that are out to "shock" the public are often in the search of fame (who isnt?) of the "fifteen minutes" sort.  

While rotting carcasses of animals (or..at the opposite end.. formaldehyde preserved ones either) may be "screaming" to the "high" art world...it seems juvenile to me many times.  Juvenile in the desperate sense of "look at me and what I did."   Like what a petulant little kid does to get approval and attention.  That scream for attention....that need to make sculpture of "manure" (as witnessed in earlier post) ...seems ridiculous...even if it wins the approval of the art critics and is valued at "hundreds of thousands of dollars."  

Artists all want attention.   Some get it by producing art that is "appreciated" by the masses and some by producing art that is mainstream.  Others by producing "art" that is noteworthy only because of its shock value.  

Time usually tells the final lasting value of the art.  Of course tastes change with time (e.g. the acceptance of Van Gogh is just one of many examples)..but I find it hard to imagine that some time in the future someone is going to look at a pile of manure (or discarded trash) as a sign of "the art of a culture" unless it is a very low, base culture.  Funny to think of it that way.  The future may judge the "high art" (I am being generous calling piles of manure or rotting flesh..."high art") of today as the very lowest cultural expression.  

Thinking of time...if you lived far in the future...do you (anyone reading this now) think rotting carcasses or preserved fetal pigs or piles of "manure" will ever be considered "art?"

What will it take to "shock" the future?  Mass murders?  Genocide as an art form?  Sorry...it has already been done.  Back to the argument that there are no more original ideas....

Musing off now, 
Steadman


  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Tyler Boley 
  To: DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint@yahoogroups.com 
  Sent: Tuesday, October 23, 2001 8:48 AM
  Subject: Re: [Digital BW] ART-what is it?


  >   ps 
  >   The thing that is sad is not the high end art world, it is the low end/
  >   popular art world and the populations lack of interest in anything more 
  >   than a nature scene. Trendy-ness is something the art snobs love to 
  >   hate, but in actuality is one of the only things that help bring better 
  >   art to the masses. Offensive or outrageous pieces can do the same thing 
  >   because of the press and attention they receive (see Piss Christ).
  > 
  But if the only alternative to hallmark card nature scenes that 
  manages to elbow it's way to the public's attention is art who's main 
  purpose is to outrage, they'll certainly not be that interested in 
  seeking out something they may find more complelling.
  Kinda like the difference between Michael Bolton and Madonna. It's 
  barely music at all, yet there is a universe of music out there, 
  including compelling leading edge stuff. How would you know?
  The older I get, I'm of the mind that artists intent on being 
  "offensive" (which is anything but these days, boring in fact) are 
  really just trying to manipulate pop culture into giving them their 15 
  minutes.
  Tyler



        Yahoo! Groups Sponsor 
              ADVERTISEMENT
             
       
       

  Please visit the Group Homepage to check the Files, Bookmarks, Polls and other resources as they are often being updated. The page is at:

  http://groups.yahoo.com/group/DigitalBlackandWhiteThePrint

  Please follow these basic guidelines:
  - Include your full name with your message.
  - Include the address of your website, if you have one.
  - As threads develop, trim off excess portions of earlier messages to keep them short.
  - As the topic of a thread changes remember to change the subject header.
  - Good manners are required at all time. No personal attacks or "flames."
  - Complete your Yahoo profile.
  - Before posting a question, search the message archives and the various resources on the homepage. 




  Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to the Yahoo! Terms of Service. 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]