Comments on: Story Telling http://artandperception.com/2007/02/story-telling.html a multi-disciplinary dialog Thu, 08 Jan 2009 16:55:32 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Karl Zipser http://artandperception.com/2007/02/story-telling.html#comment-7064 Karl Zipser Sun, 25 Feb 2007 07:39:51 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/2007/02/story-telling.html#comment-7064 Bob, In modern terminology, "transparency" is a characteristic of institutions or systems that function well and have nothing to hide. The art establishment is a prototype of an "opaque" system. What does that opacity hide? It may hide a truth which says that the whole system is illusion. Imagine how much money would be lost if the system were discredited and much contemporary art suddenly lost all value. There may be a very good reason for that opacity. The 17th century philosopher <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spinoza">Spinoza</a> wrote, regarding the political sphere, that policies that did not serve the interests of most people would be given divine justification. This is a critical basis of the concept of division of church and state. I wonder, is "Art" a god in whose name much is done that is in the interest of the few? Bob,

In modern terminology, “transparency” is a characteristic of institutions or systems that function well and have nothing to hide. The art establishment is a prototype of an “opaque” system. What does that opacity hide? It may hide a truth which says that the whole system is illusion. Imagine how much money would be lost if the system were discredited and much contemporary art suddenly lost all value. There may be a very good reason for that opacity.

The 17th century philosopher Spinoza wrote, regarding the political sphere, that policies that did not serve the interests of most people would be given divine justification. This is a critical basis of the concept of division of church and state. I wonder, is “Art” a god in whose name much is done that is in the interest of the few?

]]> By: Bob http://artandperception.com/2007/02/story-telling.html#comment-7045 Bob Sun, 25 Feb 2007 03:13:18 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/2007/02/story-telling.html#comment-7045 Karl, there is this wonderful tag-line that the University of Notre Dame uses. It's something like "You have to be willing to be different if you want to make a difference". All of us, even people who don't practice an "art" are asked to be a blade of grass, no taller nor shorter then the rest. Its a difficult life to accept, but so many do. I just finished watching "Speaking in Strings" a documentary about Violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, extremely talented musician. Her critics said, she puts to much of herself in here playing, she makes it to personal. I've always thought that was to point of doing anything. David Mamet recent book (I've not read it) apparently pulls the curtain away from the folks who make up the establishment in Hollywood, when it comes to understanding what's creative, Mamet says they don't know anything. I think we would not be wrong if we said that about all of the Art Establishment. I respect them, they have a job to do, but it does not mean that they know something more. Karl, there is this wonderful tag-line that the University of Notre Dame uses. It’s something like “You have to be willing to be different if you want to make a difference”. All of us, even people who don’t practice an “art” are asked to be a blade of grass, no taller nor shorter then the rest. Its a difficult life to accept, but so many do.

I just finished watching “Speaking in Strings” a documentary about Violinist Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, extremely talented musician. Her critics said, she puts to much of herself in here playing, she makes it to personal. I’ve always thought that was to point of doing anything.

David Mamet recent book (I’ve not read it) apparently pulls the curtain away from the folks who make up the establishment in Hollywood, when it comes to understanding what’s creative, Mamet says they don’t know anything. I think we would not be wrong if we said that about all of the Art Establishment. I respect them, they have a job to do, but it does not mean that they know something more.

]]> By: Karl Zipser http://artandperception.com/2007/02/story-telling.html#comment-6999 Karl Zipser Sat, 24 Feb 2007 15:50:58 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/2007/02/story-telling.html#comment-6999 Bob, You are saying that rather than turn you into a conformist, the army confirmed your individuality. I can imagine that would get you in trouble with the sergeant. <em>Just going along, because everyone else is, scares me silly.</em> The funny thing is that it seems in the art world that we are expected to just go along because everyone else is, also -- to long for recognition from the big collectors, get into the important galleries, dream of being in museums. I find myself wondering, why I should want to play this game? The obvious answer is that this is our art world, the way it apparently works. Frustrating, I find it sometimes. The art system itself is not aesthetically pleasing. But what is one individual to do? To become a successful artist is to be drawn deeper into the system. To be an unsuccessful artist is to have no voice. Bob,

You are saying that rather than turn you into a conformist, the army confirmed your individuality. I can imagine that would get you in trouble with the sergeant.

Just going along, because everyone else is, scares me silly.

The funny thing is that it seems in the art world that we are expected to just go along because everyone else is, also — to long for recognition from the big collectors, get into the important galleries, dream of being in museums. I find myself wondering, why I should want to play this game? The obvious answer is that this is our art world, the way it apparently works. Frustrating, I find it sometimes. The art system itself is not aesthetically pleasing. But what is one individual to do? To become a successful artist is to be drawn deeper into the system. To be an unsuccessful artist is to have no voice.

]]> By: Bob http://artandperception.com/2007/02/story-telling.html#comment-6996 Bob Sat, 24 Feb 2007 15:39:25 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/2007/02/story-telling.html#comment-6996 Karl, I wish I could say that being in the Army had no value but it did. At the time I was a smart kid from the inner city (Bronx) who did not know how to keep his mouth shut. So I was always in trouble with my sgt. When I got out of the Army I hadn't changed much, except that I now had an appreciation of me. That my being able to say what I believed, being honest with myself and others was what really mattered. Most institutions and the Military being maybe the largest, need group-thinking and the value that I got from being in the Army was the certainty that I didn't belong there. Just going along, because everyone else is, scares me silly. Karl, I wish I could say that being in the Army had no value but it did. At the time I was a smart kid from the inner city (Bronx) who did not know how to keep his mouth shut. So I was always in trouble with my sgt. When I got out of the Army I hadn’t changed much, except that I now had an appreciation of me. That my being able to say what I believed, being honest with myself and others was what really mattered. Most institutions and the Military being maybe the largest, need group-thinking and the value that I got from being in the Army was the certainty that I didn’t belong there. Just going along, because everyone else is, scares me silly.

]]> By: Karl Zipser http://artandperception.com/2007/02/story-telling.html#comment-6964 Karl Zipser Sat, 24 Feb 2007 08:03:24 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/2007/02/story-telling.html#comment-6964 How long were you in the army, Bob? What was it like being an artist in an institution that does not promote individual creativity and self expression as its primary goal? How long were you in the army, Bob? What was it like being an artist in an institution that does not promote individual creativity and self expression as its primary goal?

]]> By: Bob http://artandperception.com/2007/02/story-telling.html#comment-6953 Bob Sat, 24 Feb 2007 04:20:35 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/2007/02/story-telling.html#comment-6953 Karl, I returned from the army back in 1965 and it was so strange to have all of those memories show up again as Smoky sang this song at this years Grammy Awards. I've not thought about that song for a while. A Painting might be interesting. Karl, I returned from the army back in 1965 and it was so strange to have all of those memories show up again as Smoky sang this song at this years Grammy Awards. I’ve not thought about that song for a while. A Painting might be interesting.

]]> By: Karl Zipser http://artandperception.com/2007/02/story-telling.html#comment-6931 Karl Zipser Fri, 23 Feb 2007 20:02:22 +0000 http://www.artandperception.com/2007/02/story-telling.html#comment-6931 <em>I remember coming home from Army and hearing Smoky Robinson’s “Track of my Tears” and thinking that was one of the most incredible songs ever written (because my girl was gone, you know the story).</em> Bob, Talking about interesting topics for paintings, the above sounds great. Have you ever given it a try? I remember coming home from Army and hearing Smoky Robinson’s “Track of my Tears” and thinking that was one of the most incredible songs ever written (because my girl was gone, you know the story).

Bob,

Talking about interesting topics for paintings, the above sounds great. Have you ever given it a try?

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