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| RTomens, 2018 |
art post theory blogthoughts
Politics?
>?>??>Wolfgang Tillmans' latest book asks What Is Different?.
Good title.
Answers? It's in my basket.
Today I saw images of a page from the book & was put off by the sight of a Trump protester.
I watched the video posted below this morning & found the conversation between self-confessed Leftist Sean O'Hagan and Tillmans quite interesting. Which is why I put the book in my basket.
Not that I'm very interested in politics.
Art is not the subject of the discussion >>>>>
Is art ever a subject of worthwhile discussion on YouTube? Oh look, a lecture aimed at simpletons! Not that one. We (I) may ponder the significance of any questions, by which I mean, if we have them do we not also already have answers in our heads which await confirmation? Other than asking Google how we Brits should spell 'apologise', as I did this morning because my job demanded it, the 'answers' to political/philosophical/theoretical questions are as likely to be self-formulated as they are proven 'facts'.
(By the way, even the spelling of 'apologise' has no hard factual answer. On one site the question created a big row between Canadians who wish to remain faithful to the Empire by using an 's' instead of a 'z' & so on. Me, I'm an 's' supporter.)
What is different today?
Everything & nothing. Nothing in the 'corrupt' world of politics is fundamentally new except a president's ability to use Twitter. Let's not lower the tone by asking if society (UK) is 'better' or 'worse' today, although that's what Tillmans and O'Hagan get into. To his credit, Tillmans attempts to offer a relative argument for progress compared to decades ago, but Lefty O'Hagan (wasn't there a boxer of that name? If not, there should have been) is having none of it, naturally, he has his own agenda and ready-made answers.
Everything & nothing. Nothing in the 'corrupt' world of politics is fundamentally new except a president's ability to use Twitter. Let's not lower the tone by asking if society (UK) is 'better' or 'worse' today, although that's what Tillmans and O'Hagan get into. To his credit, Tillmans attempts to offer a relative argument for progress compared to decades ago, but Lefty O'Hagan (wasn't there a boxer of that name? If not, there should have been) is having none of it, naturally, he has his own agenda and ready-made answers.
The internet the internet the internet
That thing...is the answer & question. Tillmans cites a cognitive scientist's study of users which says many in America are only 'one person away from complete social isolation'. As many as that? I wish there was someone between me and complete social isolation. 'The internet', says Tillmans, 'gives people...gives the most remote fringe idea always a potential crowd of co-believers'. How true! You (the aspiring artist) have read all about How To Attract A Million Page Visits On Your Art Blog and How To Be A Successful Artist On Instagram, haven't you? You have. They didn't help.
That thing...is the answer & question. Tillmans cites a cognitive scientist's study of users which says many in America are only 'one person away from complete social isolation'. As many as that? I wish there was someone between me and complete social isolation. 'The internet', says Tillmans, 'gives people...gives the most remote fringe idea always a potential crowd of co-believers'. How true! You (the aspiring artist) have read all about How To Attract A Million Page Visits On Your Art Blog and How To Be A Successful Artist On Instagram, haven't you? You have. They didn't help.
Remote fringe art zine idea
Only recently I had the 'lunatic idea' that people would want to buy my art zine. It has yet to attract a 'crowd' of co-believers'. More people believe the moon trip was fake than will buy an art zine, but hey, that's the crazy internet-inspired fake belief world we live in, eh?
Village idiot voice
Trump is in the White House and unchecked on the internet. Lunatic fringe politics succeeded. Hurrah for demockracy! Tillmans & O'Hagan mention the 'village idiot' (the lunatics have taken over the asylum), once not taken seriously, now capable of gathering followers & being important. He used to rant down the local pub/bar & be laughed at. Now he has followers. The internet is so enabling, isn't it? Any political fantasist can find his/her far out, far-Right/Left views supported. Credibility-by-numbers.
Para-universal art fantasy
On the parallel universe called the internet even artists can elevate themselves to a position (self-appointed) of importance. Look at me sat here talking as if anyone is listening. Only blog stats can threaten the art blogger's self-esteem...but here's a tip: ignore them! There's no long game on the internet but I'm playing it by carrying on regardless. I've come across blog corpses once run by supposed Top Art Bloggers. It's too much like hard work; writing & posting art. So hit Instagram...much more gratifying - post pics & watch your Followers grow in number!
Would you vote for art?
Well would you? Politics is complicated. Art is more complicated. People have voted out of anger, frustration, defiance & ideological enthusiasm, none of which count for anything in the art vote. Except the latter, which might drive the liberal central art supporter who, like the liberal central literature supporter will advocate 'the arts' as a nice idea overall therefore unhesitatingly vote art. Meanwhile, for others, there are problems. They belong to the lunatic fringes but unlike at major political party conferences cannot be found at the equivalent Frieze Art Fair or biennales, from which they are not banned but naturally excluded. Instead, they must seek solace from micro-gatherings in digital village halls where they rant against landscapes in saturated colours, soft porn digitally rendered figuration & popular collage on Etsy. The next meeting is tomorrow night at 8pm. See you there.
Political art, anyone?
Some say artists should be Political today - our times demand it! Right. Nobody's demands make a difference to me in that respect. They are free to demand whatever they like & welcome to it. If tomorrow I make art relating to food banks or Trump, so be it. I shall do so of my own accord. The agendarists will always try to lasso individuals in the hope of riding them until they are tame enough to be lead in the 'right direction'.
Meanwhile, Art Workers of the World, Unite. You have nothing to lose but your internet connection!
Only recently I had the 'lunatic idea' that people would want to buy my art zine. It has yet to attract a 'crowd' of co-believers'. More people believe the moon trip was fake than will buy an art zine, but hey, that's the crazy internet-inspired fake belief world we live in, eh?
Village idiot voice
Trump is in the White House and unchecked on the internet. Lunatic fringe politics succeeded. Hurrah for demockracy! Tillmans & O'Hagan mention the 'village idiot' (the lunatics have taken over the asylum), once not taken seriously, now capable of gathering followers & being important. He used to rant down the local pub/bar & be laughed at. Now he has followers. The internet is so enabling, isn't it? Any political fantasist can find his/her far out, far-Right/Left views supported. Credibility-by-numbers.
Para-universal art fantasy
On the parallel universe called the internet even artists can elevate themselves to a position (self-appointed) of importance. Look at me sat here talking as if anyone is listening. Only blog stats can threaten the art blogger's self-esteem...but here's a tip: ignore them! There's no long game on the internet but I'm playing it by carrying on regardless. I've come across blog corpses once run by supposed Top Art Bloggers. It's too much like hard work; writing & posting art. So hit Instagram...much more gratifying - post pics & watch your Followers grow in number!
Would you vote for art?
Well would you? Politics is complicated. Art is more complicated. People have voted out of anger, frustration, defiance & ideological enthusiasm, none of which count for anything in the art vote. Except the latter, which might drive the liberal central art supporter who, like the liberal central literature supporter will advocate 'the arts' as a nice idea overall therefore unhesitatingly vote art. Meanwhile, for others, there are problems. They belong to the lunatic fringes but unlike at major political party conferences cannot be found at the equivalent Frieze Art Fair or biennales, from which they are not banned but naturally excluded. Instead, they must seek solace from micro-gatherings in digital village halls where they rant against landscapes in saturated colours, soft porn digitally rendered figuration & popular collage on Etsy. The next meeting is tomorrow night at 8pm. See you there.
Political art, anyone?
Some say artists should be Political today - our times demand it! Right. Nobody's demands make a difference to me in that respect. They are free to demand whatever they like & welcome to it. If tomorrow I make art relating to food banks or Trump, so be it. I shall do so of my own accord. The agendarists will always try to lasso individuals in the hope of riding them until they are tame enough to be lead in the 'right direction'.
Meanwhile, Art Workers of the World, Unite. You have nothing to lose but your internet connection!
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