do you remember this scandal? this is what i really hate about contemporary art. this painting turned into a very big scandal and following freedom of speech issue. elephant dung or no, there is little good about this painting. i mean, at what point does art become so self-conscious that it becomes kitsch? listen to susan: "the aim of all commentary on art now should be tom ake works of art - and, by analogy, our own experience - more, rather than less, real to us. the function of criticism should be to show hot it is what it is, rather than to show what it means." when art is catering entirely to subsequent criticism its no longer reflective or a recovery of senses. at risd this weekend i went to a party where there were some young men making "noise music". i know pushing boundaries has been important etc. etc. but this seemed to me like some bizarre call for attention. at one point one man put the a snare drum over his head while the friend beat it and shouted "open my ____ (insert various obsene body part)". female audience member screamed "yeah, fuck, rock on!" and gave the rock out sign. i know they were being ironic and mocking people who take that noise music stuff seriouslyy but they thought this display of their own irony & ability to criticize serious noise music kids to be really cool. i mean, once youre being ironic about things trying to be progressive, and simultaneously thinking your really hip, is maybe the most disingenuous and affected display i can think of. what i mean to say is, why can't people make things they sincerely think is interesting? or beautiful? are the pussies? scared of being vulnerable? lack imagination? took too many showers with their mother as a child?
