I'm slowly trying to familiarize myself with a current art debate in DC. It's been a while since I followed the news there, but ionarts discusses an interesting debate over the Corcoran's J. Seward Johnson, Jr. show. I'd sort of like to see this for myself: is it art or pedagogy? The larger question is, what are the responsibilities of the state-funded museum?
Posted by Heather at November 6, 2003 09:50 AM
Comments
I had not known about this and was interesting to read your thoughts on it and thie links. Funny, but to me it seemed like the art _might_ be potentailly interesting (and kind of -- well, fun?), but that it was the framing of it in the museum's text which was particularly vapid. I don't know what about the tension between this form of painting which evoked and mimiced vision in a new way, but which, through sculpture, has a totally different effect? Or the physical manifestation of racialized types -- I wonder what Renee Green's works would say to the Manet? Okay, not the most exciting take on this stuff, but still better than text about "sweet spots" and experiencing timeless beauty.....
Posted by: Libby at November 7, 2003 05:00 AM
Yeah, the timeles beauty idea is pretty dumb. I kind of thought that the "sweet spots" comment was rather, well, sexual considering the work in question (the Manet).
Posted by: heather at November 7, 2003 07:26 AM