20090813

Let's get the real important issue straight


These town hall meetings are getting pretty insane. I'm just happy to see people care about real issues like how awesome Arrested Development (the sitcom and show but not the medical term usage) is. I wonder what would happen if protests for pop culture justice starts occurring frequently, but now that I think about it, it does happen but not for political reasons.

The Lebanon, PA town hall meeting with Senator Spector about the health care reform stirred up a laughfest for myself. These people are a passionate bunch, but I'm not sure if they have a gasp of this deep issue (heck, even I don't know). Katy Abram was one of the people that asked a question to the Senator (she's the one who doesn't want this country turn into Russia, turning into a socialized country). I watched her talk, and through her sighs, I knew she really has no idea what going on. Her interviews after the meeting still more sighs with no actual meat on what she was saying. This dude in the photo most likely wouldn't sigh if he was interview about why protest on bringing back Arrested Development. He's as passionate as everyone in these town hall meetings, except he knows his issues. But seriously, let's get Arrested Development back.

20090805

An Eternal Snooze Fest

Earlier this year, a friend was telling about a new art group/organization at FAU -- The Miami Stuckists. She asked me if I've heard of Billy Childish (yes) and slightly told me what stuckism was. When I got home I did my research on it. The basic summary of stuckism:

Stuckism is a radical and controversial art group that was co-founded in 1999 by Charles Thomson and Billy Childish (who left in 2001) along with eleven other artists. The name was derived by Thomson from an insult to Childish from his ex-girlfriend, Brit artist Tracey Emin, who had told him that his art was 'Stuck'. Stuckists are pro-contemporary figurative painting with ideas and anti-conceptual art, mainly because of its lack of concepts. Stuckists have regularly demonstrated dressed as clowns against the Turner Prize. Several Stuckist Manifestos have been issued. One of them Remodernism inaugurates a renewal of spiritual values for art, culture and society to replace the emptiness of current Postmodernism.


I was completely annoyed that such a group exist, especially on campus. The idea of artists coming together is wonderful and I encourage that, but I thought this group will only segregate the art students at FAU. Why not start a radical art group that actually DOES something then make manifestos or protest something worth protesting about.


The Miami Stuckist's Manifesto (which is based on the original of who cares) is a bit of a laughing fest for me. Two points that made me questioned their beliefs:

1. Stuckism is the quest for authenticity. By removing the mask of cleverness and admitting where we are, the Stuckist allows him/herself uncensored expression.
PAINTING (JUST LIKE ALL OF THE VISUAL ARTS) IS A MIMESIS OF NATURE/REAL LIFE -- there's nothing authentic about it.

8. Painting is mysterious. It creates worlds within worlds, giving access to the unseen psychological realities that we inhabit. The results are radically different from the materials employed. An existing object (e.g. a dead sheep) blocks access to the inner world and can only remain part of the physical world it inhabits, be it moorland or gallery. Ready-made art is a polemic of materialism.
PAINT IS ALSO AN EXISTING OBJECT, CANVAS IS ALSO AN EXISTING OBJECT. HOW DOES A DEAD SHEEP BLOCKS ACCESS TO THE INNER WORLD? WHAT DOES THAT EVEN MEAN!!!!?


What got me over the edge about the Miami Stuckists happened a few weeks ago when I found out one of their members has been plagiarizing a former classmate/friend's oeuvre. There are many concerns on this serious issue. This person could get a BFA degree from plagiarized work, and that should not be accepted.

Borrowing in art happens a lot (e.g. ready-made) and that's a part of what Stuckism believes to be not "true art." A walking, breathing contradiction Stuckism is. All forms of art is a representation of life. These forms already exist, and making a rendering of these forms is a conceptual idea. When you start to think what color paint you want to use, what subject matter you want to paint -- all of those thoughts are concepts.

CityLink/Metromix recently reported on the Miami Stuckists "conservative" group. I read the article while the way leaving to work this afternoon and I couldn't help myself but laugh out loud. Stuckism -- based on the English artworld (Turner prize, artworks made over a decade ago) is all the Miami Stuckists could talk about. Really? What about the local art communities? What about art that has been made the last 5 years?
Interesting enough the article only mentions "4" artists for their group exhibition debut. The last time I counted there was 5. The fifth being one who plagiarized. (Strikethough -- cleared up that misunderstanding) Now, I'm all for artists coming together, being creative, exhibiting works, but attacking other art forms and calling those artists "not artists" is rather Childish (huh Billy).

20090802

Sunday's Favorite Selection #36:


Slap Chop Rap

Side note: I didn't see this version on tv, but I saw another one that killed me in the morning.