5 ms·

The work of art in the age of second-order observation

38 points by cton 5y ago

barathr 5y ago
> 'Beware of first- hand ideas!' exclaimed one of the most advanced of them. 'First-hand ideas do not really exist. They are but the physical impressions produced by love and fear, and on this gross foundation who could erect a philosophy? Let your ideas be second-hand, and if possible tenth-hand, for then they will be far removed from that disturbing element – direct observation. (The Machine Stops, 1909, E.M. Forster) https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Machine_Stops https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Machine_Stops
- anm89 5y ago
  Just reead through "The Machine Stops". That is unbelievably ahead of its time. Great read
throwamon 5y ago
The only thing I "learned" from this Salvatore Garau in this text is that this sort of art is but one expensive form of institutionalization of commercial bullshit.
- platz 5y ago
  Have you tried reading artist statements before.
  - harvey9 5y ago
    Sometimes interesting. But I recall an ugly mess on the wall of Tate Modern with a card below which included "...then we shot it with a real gun..." . Britain has very strict gun laws so most people have never used one. Use of the word 'real' left me with the impression the artist had gotten over excited at something which is commonplace in other countries, and confused that with creative endeavor.
    - deleted 5y ago
      [deleted]
- NtochkaNzvanova 5y ago
  You might enjoy the film "The Square": https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4995790/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4995790/. Hilarious send-up of this BS. Try to avoid reading any spoilers, it'll be much better that way.
draw_down 5y ago
This is such masturbatory silliness.
inetsee 5y ago
Can I get an NFT of an invisible sculpture? Or, more importantly, can I sell one?
bellyfullofbac 5y ago
Just like the emperor had no clothes, whoever bought this has no art.
- tagami 5y ago
  Your post validates the artist’s intent.
- beckingz 5y ago
  They purchased no art, and that in and of itself is art.
  - teekert 5y ago
    I hope they paid with a large bag of invisible money.
tarr11 5y ago
This article explained a lot to me about why people purchase these types of things. https://newrepublic.com/article/147192/modern-art-serves-rich https://newrepublic.com/article/147192/modern-art-serves-ric...
- anm89 5y ago
  That article is really fascinating
AlbertCory 5y ago
Tom Wolfe (RIP) wrote "The Painted Word" in 2008 which pretty well summarized all this. Those can make art, make art. Those who can't, write artist's statements. And those who can't do that, write impenetrable essays about it.
lisper 5y ago
The line between art and trolling is becoming increasingly difficult for me to discern. If indeed there ever even was such a line.

38 points by cton 5y ago

> 'Beware of first- hand ideas!' exclaimed one of the most advanced of them. 'First-hand ideas do not really exist. They are but the physical impressions produced by love and fear, and on this gross foundation who could erect a philosophy? Let your ideas be second-hand, and if possible tenth-hand, for then they will be far removed from that disturbing element – direct observation. (The Machine Stops, 1909, E.M. Forster) https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Machine_Stops https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Machine_Stops

anm89 5y ago
Just reead through "The Machine Stops". That is unbelievably ahead of its time. Great read

throwamon 5y ago

The only thing I "learned" from this Salvatore Garau in this text is that this sort of art is but one expensive form of institutionalization of commercial bullshit.

platz 5y ago
Have you tried reading artist statements before.
- harvey9 5y ago
  Sometimes interesting. But I recall an ugly mess on the wall of Tate Modern with a card below which included "...then we shot it with a real gun..." . Britain has very strict gun laws so most people have never used one. Use of the word 'real' left me with the impression the artist had gotten over excited at something which is commonplace in other countries, and confused that with creative endeavor.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
NtochkaNzvanova 5y ago
You might enjoy the film "The Square": https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4995790/ https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4995790/. Hilarious send-up of this BS. Try to avoid reading any spoilers, it'll be much better that way.

draw_down 5y ago

This is such masturbatory silliness.

inetsee 5y ago

Can I get an NFT of an invisible sculpture? Or, more importantly, can I sell one?

bellyfullofbac 5y ago

Just like the emperor had no clothes, whoever bought this has no art.

tagami 5y ago
Your post validates the artist’s intent.
beckingz 5y ago
They purchased no art, and that in and of itself is art.
- teekert 5y ago
  I hope they paid with a large bag of invisible money.

tarr11 5y ago

This article explained a lot to me about why people purchase these types of things. https://newrepublic.com/article/147192/modern-art-serves-rich https://newrepublic.com/article/147192/modern-art-serves-ric...

anm89 5y ago
That article is really fascinating

AlbertCory 5y ago

Tom Wolfe (RIP) wrote "The Painted Word" in 2008 which pretty well summarized all this. Those can make art, make art. Those who can't, write artist's statements. And those who can't do that, write impenetrable essays about it.

lisper 5y ago

The line between art and trolling is becoming increasingly difficult for me to discern. If indeed there ever even was such a line.