Posted by
Andrews on Saturday, April 19, 2008 9:26:03 PM
I have never had much respect for performance art, but I am even less impressed now. After reading
this article on the possibility that the self-induced abortion art may have been a hoax, I am left convinced that there is little of either performance or art in performance art.
Let us look at both possibilities. A student caused self-induced abortions to raise awareness of "womynhood". Or, a student faked the same to get a lot of media attention. I just can't think of, say, a Rodan bronze, and this juvenile stunt and call them both art. Limiting myself to the realm of performance, I still can't compare this to something as unimpressive as a high school production of Shakespeare, or even "Inherit the Wind". It is simply a childish tantrum going by far too elevated a title, whether it is true or a hoax.
Call me a philistine, but I have to say what passes for art, and what has passed for art for most of this century, is nothing but juvenile garbage elevated by a critical community which has abdicated its duties. Once they admitted that anything could be art, then nothing was art any longer. I know it is unpopular to say so in the art world, but without rules and standards, art is meaningless.
Is it any wonder that modern art is such a sterile, worthless realm, interesting only to its practitioners and a very small clique of groupies?
POSTSCRIPT
For those who disagree with me on the need for standards, let me ask this. Did anyone play tee ball when they were very small? Where each side retired after five runs, and each game was a 45-45 tie? Do you recall how little interest you had in the outcome of those games? How it never inspired you to play anything but a mediocre game?
When we fail to measure things, to say some are better than others, we end up with no one trying. Or, worse, when there is no standard of excellence for which to strive, we see what we have in the art world, those who strive for notice in other ways, mostly through shock. If an artist cannot be judged great any longer, then the only route to success is either nepotism, media buzz or shock. If you don't have friends, and you can't generate buzz any other way, then shock is all that is left.
Which explains a lot of modern art.
ADDENDUM
By the way, after mentioning tee ball, I must state one of my claims to fame. My team was the only known tee ball team to ever win a game. We were rained out early in the eighth inning due to a sudden torrential rain. As we had finished more than 7 innings, we actually recorded the only known tee ball win, 37 to 35. At least I know of no others.