Tag Archives: art

Imponderable #18: Bogotá

23 Sep

September 23, 2011

What, you don’t read Hispanically Speaking News?

I am sure many of you are expecting me to go off about art, and what does and does not constitute art, but while you’ve got history on your side that isn’t where I am heading.

I am zeroing in on this line. “The family of the deceased has denounced neglect from the part of the incident of the university, as they allege they failed to contact emergencies in a timely manner, and for allowing ‘irresponsible activities’ on campus.”

I am sure many of you are now expecting me to go off about grammar but while you’ve still got history on your side that isn’t where I am heading. I give this one a pass.

Here’s where I am going. The family of the deceased is upset with the school for allowing “irresponsible activities.” I have to believe that by that they mean the performance.

In other words, it is the school’s fault.
Not the fault of the man who tied a garbage bag tight over his head, the school’s.
And certainly not the fault of his mother, who encouraged changes to “make it more impacting.”

It was certainly impacting.

Why would a grieving family blame anyone but their dead son for his own death?

The question is understandable.

Why wasn’t a grown man able to rip a hole in an ordinary garbage bag so he could breath?

THAT question is Imponderable.

Imponderable #10: London England

29 Jul

July 29, 2011

Does the old saying go that life imitates art, or art imitates life? Either way, what is the point of this? 

People read this and say “wow, that’s art!” I read this and say “what a weirdo.”

“Art” is a catchall for anything nowadays, and if something is “art” we are supposed to accept it. Why?

This a guy who stretches out on the sidewalk and paints filthy pieces of gum stuck to the cement. But because it is art it gets celebrated! Celebrate it? Sorry, this is stupid. How does this not get made fun of? If the guy has talent, and from some pictures I’ve seen he can paint, though certainly not Matisse level, let him paint on something other than sticky trash.

Remember the guy who implanted a camera in his head, and later developed a raging infection? That was beyond stupid, but because he called it art no one told him what him an ass he was. They lauded him. Once you call the most asinine thing “art” for some reason people are not allowed to make fun of it. Surgically implant spikes into your skull? Art! Slice your tongue like a snake’s? Art! Make statues out of excrement? Art!

No, that statue is literally a pile of shit.

I am all for art. I have no problem with freedom of expression. But if someone chooses to paint on dirty pieces of gum stuck to the ground, then I have the freedom of expression to say he is a weirdo.

Why would a talented artist choose to paint on disgusting pieces of spit-out gum?

The question ins Imponderable.