You are currently browsing the tag archive for the 'Commodity Culture' tag.
From George Lucas' THX-1138
My colleague, fellow photographer, and thought monger, Colleen has opened up a great dialog about the 20 X 200 project that Jen Bekman has spawned. Here’s a link to the original post. Be sure to check out Bekman’s rebuttal (especially for the last comment).
Now my Friday question:
Is the process of making art for immediate entry into the commercial marketplace (in this case the web) really making the world a better place?
Short Answer: In my opinion NO. The immediate translation of art into readily accessible, pull-out-your-VISA-card-honey commodity is frustratingly shallow. I’m sure I’ll catch hell for that. Maybe Karl Lagerfeld said it best in Lagerfeld Confidential:
(I’ll heavily paraphrase)
Artists used to offer something else. Now we only aim to ape and act like the bourgeoisie. Perhaps it should be our goal to offer something outside of the majorities acceptance for once.
Maybe I am simply too bitter of an old troll to really answer this question honestly and with grace. However, I will try my best.
Exposure is a wonderful thing (unless you are naked and it is winter in Minnesota, but that’s another story). However, is this why we are involved in making art? I can certainly answer no. While, I get extremely down from time to time because I am not exhibiting work as much as I want to, I have to remind myself that I am in the game to make work, gain clarity, and understand.
The purpose of the 20X200 project is to make art more affordable and accessible to a wider audience.
When fully deconstructed and shifted in perspective, is this a noble pursuit? Is art supposed to be for everyone? Should we be whole-saling our ideas for the sake of being seen by as many people as possible?
Apparently, Amazon.com is an incredibly noble pursuit. So is Wal-Mart. So is anything that tries to make rarified resources availble to as may people as humanly possible. Hopefully soon there will be a 20X200 iPhone app that just automatically purchases whatever prints Jen Bekman likes (unfortunately there is a distinct lack of diversity).
I’m getting the willies.
Maybe we should all watch THX1138, just for the quote:
“Buy More. Buy more Now. And be happy.”
(that might have been a more fitting answer than all the drivel I’ve typed out above)
