Randall Moody on sat 12 jun 99
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> At 03:17 PM 06/09/1999 EDT, Tamara wrote: (in part)
> >I recently got my BFA in Ceramics and the entire time I was battling with
the
> >"Artspeak," art lingo, deep psychological meaning thing. I was told that
it
> >was important to be able to speak about my work. But there in lies the
rub.
> >I wasn't saying what they wanted to hear.
> Me- "What did they use to glue this ring on?"
>
> Sales rep (indignantly)- "It's NOT glued on, it's permanently bonded with
a
> structural adhesive ! "
>
> I am reminded of this most times I see/hear a statement about Art/Craft
> that is supposed to have deep meaning. This includes most, but not all,
> "Artists statements". The unfortunate thing, that Tamara was subjected
to,
> is that many of us are expected to participate in it, in order to "fit".
I must admit that I run hot and cold on artspeak. On one hand I feel that if
the work needs an explanation it is failing in some regard. On the other,
one needs the proper vocabulary to discuss his/her profession.
I would not feel comfortable hearing my mechanic say, "Your squirty thing
was full of goo." to explain a clogged fuel injector. Or my doctor say, "Ya
gots a flake o' crud in yer brain!"
My point is that if we are to talk of Art and be taken seriously we must use
the proper terms, but not let ourselves slide into jargon. (If I hear the
term reliquary once more I will scream! :) )
F PARKER on sun 13 jun 99
This is a true story. I know it will not seem so, but it is true...
Many centuries ago I was in college studying architecture. The
undergraduate program included a couple of elective options, one of which
was a graduate course in the Urban Planning Department. A friend of mine,
who was in his 5th year (the undergraduate program was a 5-year program),
signed up for this urban planning course.
By the 5th year in architecture, most students had been pumped so full of
the architectural version of "artspeak" that most were very fluent, to put
it mildly. My friend and his project partner (it was a joint project)
decided, after much deliberate contemplation, that the one and only
governing principle for their project would be this: "Nothing we do will
have even a shred of legitimacy about it." They based their entire planning
project on bogus assumptions, bogus arguments, circular logic and absurdity.
At the end of the quarter, when jury day rolled around, they produced an
unbelievable presentation. Both of these guys were very good craftsmen and
excellent illustrators. They hung five or six absolutely beautiful 30"x40"
illustration boards on the wall, all filled with bogus charts and diagrams
and site plans that bore no resemblance to anything. Their presentation
included discussions of fabricated principles and made-up findings, and they
delivered the whole thing with straight faces -- not even a smirk! The
"Artspeak" went on so heavily, once or twice I was afraid someone might turn
blue from oxygen deprivation.
The presentation was juried by a couple of senior faculty members from the
Architecture Department along with one or two professors from Urban
Planning. Each listened intently, taking notes and nodding their very
sophicated and intellectual approvals when it was appropriate to do so. Not
one of them ever realized what was happening. When it was over they were so
impressed that the two B.S. artists not only received A's, but they were
asked to make their presentation to the entire department of Urban Planning
to boot!
Just shows the power of communication...
That really is a true story.
Fred Parker
----- Original Message -----
From: Randall Moody
To:
Sent: Saturday, June 12, 1999 8:53 AM
Subject: Re: "Artspeak" and "Technobabble"
> ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> > ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
> > At 03:17 PM 06/09/1999 EDT, Tamara wrote: (in part)
> > >I recently got my BFA in Ceramics and the entire time I was battling
with
> the
> > >"Artspeak," art lingo, deep psychological meaning thing. I was told
that
> it
> > >was important to be able to speak about my work. But there in lies the
> rub.
> > >I wasn't saying what they wanted to hear.
> > Me- "What did they use to glue this ring on?"
> >
> > Sales rep (indignantly)- "It's NOT glued on, it's permanently bonded
with
> a
> > structural adhesive ! "
> >
> > I am reminded of this most times I see/hear a statement about Art/Craft
> > that is supposed to have deep meaning. This includes most, but not all,
> > "Artists statements". The unfortunate thing, that Tamara was subjected
> to,
> > is that many of us are expected to participate in it, in order to "fit".
>
> I must admit that I run hot and cold on artspeak. On one hand I feel that
if
> the work needs an explanation it is failing in some regard. On the other,
> one needs the proper vocabulary to discuss his/her profession
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