Tom Millar wrote:
quoted 6 lines Quite frankly I don't understand why adults, and arguably>
>Quite frankly I don't understand why adults, and arguably
>more-intelligent-than-average adults at that, should be having these
>complaints at all. I can understand how a parent might...but for
>those of you who don't have such extenuating circumstances to excuse
>yourselves, this one's for you!
Odd distinction.
Why are parents alone justified in having concerns over obscenity?
I know quite a few non-parents who are object to vulgarity.
quoted 4 lines You would think that none of you had ever:>
>
>You would think that none of you had ever:
>I mean, universal human experience is universal human experience, right?
Universality of certain experiences does not imply appropriateness
for discussion in all circles and circumstances.
In some cases this is a matter of shame, in others a matter of
discretion or modesty, in others a sense that something is rather too
sacred to discuss so casually, or at all.
quoted 3 lines But this has been going on for almost the>But this has been going on for almost the
>entirety of twentieth century art, especially the visual arts. It's just now
>catching up to music-
Historical precedent justifies nothing.
Anyway, the traditional visual arts have not had a particularly
brilliant track record of late, and the "puerile" works even less so.
If the work's only intent is to annoy, shock, offend, then with all
due respect, this is not art.
quoted 2 lines Art itself>Art itself
>is gratuitous by nature anyway-
Is it?
Some art surely
Other art may be very concerned to express certain views or ideas -
social, political, spiritual, metaphysical.
Other art may attempt to communicate some sort of transcending experience.
And son.
quoted 1 line nobody ever said it had to be pretty.>nobody ever said it had to be pretty.
"Not being pretty" does not imply "gratuitous".
Anselm Kiefer's work is hardly pretty, but neither is it gratuitous.
quoted 2 lines Back to fucking with shit, fucking shit up, whatever. Fuck it.>
>Back to fucking with shit, fucking shit up, whatever. Fuck it.
Enjoy yourself, then.
Best,
3