Post Bullshitism

What artistic period are we in? Towards the end of the 19th century artists began rejecting the use of academic subject matter. By the first quarter of this century academic subject matter became extinct and was never again revived. This led to anarchy in the choice of subject matter and 20th century artists separating into two distinct factions.

While both factions rejected the former subject matter one retained the old reliance on a foundation of skill and technique in its creations. The other faction gradually rejected not only academic subject matter but all its former reliance on skill and technique and regarded this as something utterly new. Presently except for a few vestigial remainders, skill and technique is almost entirely absent from the artwork of this faction.

This latter faction won out in the eyes of the critics and produced what I call Modern Academic Art. It is now considered the only great art of this century worthy of enough intellectual interest to inhabit the modern sections of our museums.

Early in this century Modern Academic Art because of its outrageous subject matter, its diminished skill and questionable technique necessitated a good bit of talk for intellectual support. For those who see art historical periods in terms of isms, the age of Bullshitism had begun.

Presently what counts in art is large amounts of inventive talk, while the artwork is of practically no interest whatever. We have now ponderously arrived at a period whose most appropriate title is Post Bullshitism.

...no skill no art... Tired of Modern Art? Check out my web page

Forgot to take your medicine again? Huh Mani?

So quit talking and start chalking

All you need is a more humorous perspective. Don't take it so seriously Visit my Charlie.
http://www.tinmangallery.com/DwK/Charlie.html

keith

I can't think of any way to reliably predict what title the 'art world' of the future will assign our age. If you believe that what sells today, will determine the above, then I believe you will be wrong. It seems that certain 'trends' that are taken up in later periods in a significant way might have some determination on the matter. Alternatively, the whole period 1900-2002 might be referred to in some general word (other than yours). One of the overlying trends has been the rejection of anything that might be representational. Also, there seems to me to have been a move to the portrayal of more and more simple compositions. The trend towards Minimalism was only a sincere reflection and development of earlier work in the 20th Cent. Some 'art' has been shown that has almost no way of being used as an exhibit, in fact it almost trumpets it's own transience. I refer to Tracy Emin's 'Unmade Bed' as one example. This stuff, it seems to me to unconciously reflect a certain transience and triviality within modern Western Society. The interpretation of paintings should be careful, although we can be allowed our own opinions without reference to the artist's explanation. Much of 20th cent painting it seems to me has moved into a period where it's interpretation requires accompanying notes and explanations from those who apparently are privileged to know the artist's language of symbols. I suggest the period 1900-2002 is titled ' the age of Trivialitism' or 'the age of Incoherance ' or 'the age of Phillistinism'

You got it now post it!

...no skill no art... Tired of Modern Art? Check out my web page

Totally unnecessary! Check out http://www.artrenewal.org/

Using just your eyes you can see how 19th century academic subject matter differs from 20th century Modern Academic Art.

...no skill no art... Tired of Modern Art? Check out my web page

Yes mani it does and the 19th century was dealing w/ different issues vs. the 20th as far as image making is concerened and welcome to the 21st.

Please mani take your pills and after the lithium kicks in you might gain some 'perspective' but then again who knows? How far your moronic proclimations can go even on psycotropic drugs meant to balance.

(submit a swear word, Mani!)

It's great

Your post makes much sense to me. I especially liked:

'This stuff, it seems to me to unconciously reflect a certain transience and triviality within modern Western Society.'

Kenny