Like I said, in 2009 I gave up on criticizing the mainstream ideals or things like “celebrity culture” because, well, there’s a lot of it that just plain disgusts me, but an equal amount that fascinates me, as is life. With that, I’m going to also try to complain less about the weak notions of art and “pop,” etc. Well, I didn’t give up on criticizing it (because I’m not dead) but I’ve started to understand it a little more. And I’ve stopped fighting it. Fighting it damages me more than it. But things like American Idol that I don’t respect? I get them now. As much as I’m going to, at least. I may not join in, per se, but I understand.
New thoughts on the matter:
-Like what you like.
-Do what you do.
-Accept that your art is not for everyone.
-Conversely, don’t freak out if no one gives a shit for the things you “like.”
-Don’t be a cocksucker about things that others like, especially if others are intelligent.
-Something something fingerbang (because that’s my new favorite word)!
-You probably don’t know shit about shit. Teach when you can, but more importantly, be ready to shut up and learn.
-Make art when you can. Life is hard, it’s true, and it’s rough. It’s so rough. But it’s also temporary. It flies right by. But, before you go, put something on your walls, on your bookshelves, on your shrine of self or whatever, okay?
And that last one comes with a special caveat for writers. Partly because I think I’m going to talk a little, just a little, and in a very abstract way, about writers this week. But here’s some advice for writers: Write. Magic elves don’t bring you respect and money and credibility and beaucoup fingerbanging just because you declare yourself as a writer to a universe. Do a little living, make some decisions, see some weird shit, do some weird shit, and then do some fingerbanging. On the keyboard, that is.
Anyway, separate from writers and back to “pop art” in general… And what’s the most poppiest of the current pop shit out there as far as I can tell? Lady Gaga.
Right?
She looks like what I imagine slowly going insane feels like. And I’m not complaining. There’s just no point. She’s not necessarily my thing, but I find her to be an interesting bit of current oddity (even if my particular bit of gravamen is with the unnecessary pomp of it all)(though maybe it’s unnecessariness is what makes it so necessary?). The strange dada pop star. That place where music becomes experience turned into bad romance? A culture reflected back on itself through a disco ball? Also, this:
That’s Amanda Palmer, formerly of The Dresden Dolls, writing a song, a “blogsong,” if you will (in lieu of writing a blog post) about things like Lady GaGa and pop music entitled “Gaga, Palmer, Madonna.” I like this because, I like Amanda Palmer, it’s relevant to something I wanted to talk about, and Palmer has a thematically connective tissue to something like GaGa, to me, but is certainly at the other end of the popularity spectrum (unfortunately), right?
I discovered the song via Neil Gaiman’s blog (they’re dating), and they were apparently having a private discussion about things like pop art and Lady GaGa and she responded by making the song/video, which fascinates me. Every once in a while you need to immerse yourself in the medium to discuss the medium. Plus, Palmer raises some interesting questions not just about making popular art, but what it’s like to be a woman making popular art today.
Food for thought while you’re thinking about being artistic, yeah?
And now I shall leave you with one of my favorite pure pop songs:
you are in grave danger.
today, you “accept” “their” “art.” Tomorrow… and the next day you’re one of those proles with some half-baked opinion of how Lady GaGa encourages individuality.
Intelligence has nothing to do with good taste; the hidden indicators of bad taste warned of this.
some people juggle geese.
Today I “accept” that “their” “art” exists, regardless of what I think of that art or those who make it or those who like it.
Tomorrow, with luck, I’m making my own. But I like what I like and I have a reason for doing so, even if that reason is the eternally glorious “just cause” that exists in all of us.
Some people juggle geese. Some people fill galleries with shit, literal shit, hung on walls. Some people are Lady GaGa or like Lady GaGa. Right now, thankfully, I’m none of these people. I can also happily admit that I don’t like Ridley Scott, Stephanie Zachareck, Boondock Saints, and I certainly didn’t think that Battlestar Galactica was some brilliant metaphor for the war in Iraq.
Don’t mistake me finding something “interesting” with “liking” it. I find masterpieces interesting and I find trainwrecks interesting but I only really like one of those two, though I think you might be confused about which.
Taste has nothing to do with intelligence, though it can feel like it does at times. Thankfully, I’m incredibly smart and have excellent taste in things. And complaining about what others like doesn’t make me look good in comparison. Right or wrong, inspired or misguided, I’ve got my own hidden indicators for both bad taste and good taste.
“Taste has nothing to do with intelligence”
Then why did you write this: “Don’t be a cocksucker about things that others like, especially if others are intelligent.”
I don’t think you’re looking deep enough into what you’re talking about. To criticize the “artwork” (such a loaded word, art, I try not to use it often) of, say, Heroes is more than just a way to tease August Bravo. We slander Heroes because of its poor writing, lazy continuity and mediocre execution of ideas. Why does that matter? Because laziness and mediocrity aren’t issues of taste, they’re character traits, and a culture that values those traits above others is one that is failing to be its best.
Like John Cusack says, it MATTERS. The superficiality of Lady Gaga is both a reflection and an exploitation of a culture that lacks nuance. To merely “make art” is not enough; it’s why mankind invented the round file.
You’re right, “art” is too broad of a term, too abstract. And especially when you’re talking a medium like television. It may be a great unifier at times, but that doesn’t necessarily mean a great deal of art goes into it.
“Taste has nothing to do with intelligence” is exactly why I said that. And sorry to drag you into this, August Bravo, but you do make for a good example here. August likes, or liked, Heroes. August also likes Mad Men and is starting to get into Lost, two shows I like quite a bit, but that doesn’t excuse him liking Heroes, a show that consistently displays, as you said, poor writing, lazy continuity, and mediocre execution of (ripped off) ideas. But that doesn’t make me dislike August Bravo or devalue his intelligence. I may joke with him and tease him about Heroes, but I’m lucky enough to know him and consider him my friend and enjoy his mind. He and I can have a rational conversation about what he values in a show like Heroes and what I abhor about the same program, and we can keep it intelligent and civil, and maybe one of us will be right and maybe one of us will be wrong.
But maybe August likes Heroes in the same way you like Flash Forward.
I’m thankful, for the sake of your taste, and I really do say that jokingly, that you are the biggest critic of Flash Forward, but you’ve still watched more episodes than I have. Something about has proved interesting enough with you for you to invest your time in that piece of shit. Someday I’ll join you because I must be just as big a masochist as you.
To really properly criticize something like Lady GaGa is such a multi-faceted thing. Are we talking about poor music/experience? Are we talking about the corrupt industry of “popular music” that’s been exploiting and damaging the psyche of youth with sugary shit for… well, ever now? All I said was that I find her “interesting,” and a lot of my feelings about her are the same as yours. I find her “interesting” in the same ways that I wish as I was more of an art history buff and knew more of the “art” Rome was producing as it was burning, and I say that in the same breath in which I say that I find “Poker Face” to be a catchy song, even if I don’t love it or need it in my life. I can easily put down GaGa, but it’s just too easy, but all I’m saying is that I’m not going to go out of my way to shit on the person who actually likes that. If they actually think GaGa is an amazing, trendsetting artist who promotes individuality, well, then that’s a serious shame. I hope they’re 14 and grow out of that phase. Maybe they’re 24 and they don’t care or it’s just their guilty pleasure. Maybe they’re 34, or any age, and they’re an idiot. Maybe they find her ridiculous and enjoy that ridiculousness in the same way that I enjoy something like Road House. Maybe they know they’re chewing bubble gum, know what it is, and still want some. I don’t know. I’m not here to defend the culture, just to enjoy it or not, to play in those reindeer games or not, to find it interesting or to care less.
Personally, I view this as a conversation and I choose not to see this as you attacking me when you disagree with me. But even if that’s the case, I’m okay with that. I value your opinion and it’s one of the many reasons I’m lucky to call you my friend. In fact, I actually value your opinion more when you disagree with me, regardless of whether I’m right or wrong, or if you understand or care what I’m trying to say.
you really should watch more episodes of Flash Forward. Somebody else needs to share in the pain that I have experienced.
ps. this is the part where you say “why do you find it so hard to believe?”
This is actually where I ask you, “why do you find it so easy?”
Interesting. You see me more as Locke than Jack?
“It’s never been easy!”
You more as Locke than Jack? Oh, yeah, easily.
Though I’m really not suggesting that you hang yourself.
hmm. this could be a fun game. If we’re looking at personality more than actions, then I’m probably closest to… Ben?