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I went to a local modern art museum about two years ago (the Walker in Minneapolis). I've been aware of the perception of modern art as "throwing paint on a can

by coldpie 12y ago

I went to a local modern art museum about two years ago (the Walker in Minneapolis). I've been aware of the perception of modern art as "throwing paint on a canvas randomly" or "leaning two sticks together" and thought it was just a patronizing criticism from those more familiar with the form. So I decided to go check out a museum and see for myself what the actual art form was like. Holy crap what a waste of time. "Screwing a few boards together" described one of the exhibits. The paragraph describing the exhibit outside the door said something about the artist's reflection of his house growing up or something. But it was just a few boards, rotten oranges, and a TV playing something or other. What the hell? Another exhibit was a long hallway with two rolled up pieces of construction paper stood on either end. Okay. Nothing else in the museum even merits derision, it was so dull. So yeah, modern art deserves its mocking and crap reputation. I guess someone must enjoy it.

IgorPartola 12y ago
I think the problem is that if we start defining art, we quickly get into the territory of having lots of false negatives. There are lots of things that are now considered art, and are quite enjoyable, that would not have been art in the past. The dogmatic approach doesn't work. However, leaving it completely open lets people do the "lean two sticks together" thing. It can also be much much worse than that. I remember reading about an exhibit someone was doing where they were letting a dog starve over several weeks while on display. The dog died. Shocking? Yes. Art? No. Here's a good working definition of art I like: "Art isn't art until it's sold. Until then it's an obsession and a storage problem." Not saying it has to be actually sold, but if it's something someone would buy, then yes it's art, at least to a first approximation.

by coldpie 12y ago

IgorPartola 12y ago

I think the problem is that if we start defining art, we quickly get into the territory of having lots of false negatives. There are lots of things that are now considered art, and are quite enjoyable, that would not have been art in the past. The dogmatic approach doesn't work. However, leaving it completely open lets people do the "lean two sticks together" thing. It can also be much much worse than that. I remember reading about an exhibit someone was doing where they were letting a dog starve over several weeks while on display. The dog died. Shocking? Yes. Art? No. Here's a good working definition of art I like: "Art isn't art until it's sold. Until then it's an obsession and a storage problem." Not saying it has to be actually sold, but if it's something someone would buy, then yes it's art, at least to a first approximation.