In these days of abundance and presumptuousness we are continuously bombarded with attempts at self-expression through art. A line across a canvas can hang in a gallery and be pondered over, in all seriousness, for hours and a jumble of words placed in random sequence, but maintaining, sometimes, grammatical order, can be considered poetry worthy of consideration. [I recall hearing a story in the news once, about a guy that sent a painting by an elephant to a gallery where it was taken as a great piece of art and exhibited for weeks before the ‘artists’ identity was discovered.] The inevitable question arises: What is art and who is worthy of being labelled an artist? If by art we mean random brushstrokes or words that propose to make the observer project their own meanings and psychologies into the work-most often unintended by the artist- and that through their mere presence in a supposed art-gallery or by simply labelling them as pieces of art we are supposed to take them seriously and we are supposed to find our own symbols and metaphors in them then this world is surely filled with magnificent artwork. If by art we mean an intentional attempt to capture reality or to express a truth or the human condition in general, then certainly art is rare. Wanderer’s advice for creating ‘art’ and inspired by looking through the ‘Poetry Thread’. For all would be artists, claiming depth and wanting to be taken seriously and wanting to be considered thoughtful: 1) Instead of aiming for ambiguity that is supposed to insinuate, but not prove, value, choose to aim for clarity. 2) Instead of masking the meaninglessness of your work in a chaotic jumble intended to make observers fight to find purpose by reaching, not into your art, but into themselves and their own imagination choose to exhibit meaning and purpose and motive openly and with courage. 3) Instead of playing with human psychology that makes most feign understanding, even when looking at an incomprehensible piece of supposed art, so as to not appear shallow or stupid choose to make understanding easy even to the average mind that dominates our species. 4) Instead of pretending intellectual and artistic quality to yourself and others to hide inner insecurity, choose to make an honest attempt at lucid artistic communication even if it fails to inspire or be considered good.
why am i not suprised. the strategy outlined above could have originated from madison ave. the very things that stimulates thought and dialogue is rejected i now support eugenics. the peasants must be culled and eliminated from the gene pool. no sandal squeaks without purpose respect even the space between your toes trust your sense of judging melon step aside when the universe says, 'hot stuff coming through!'
Well, look who's back from the dead. Such pretty words, Wanderer. Why not just be clearer though? Here's what you meant to say. "I don't get it - that pisses me off".
I think the poetry thread is fine, and the poems there fine. It is simply how the authors choose to present their works. That poetry need not be ambiguous or allow the reader to influence its meaning by using their insecurities, emotions, etc is quite simply insane to me. Besides, most of the poems don't seem all that complicated or at all ambiguous-- with the exception of Avatar's newest. I have no fucking idea what language it is written. he he he
Fenris Wolf Well look who sobered up enough and managed to tear himself from his X-Box to reply to my post. What do you mean? I don’t get it and it makes my mad. Here’s one of my poems inspired by the ones in the ‘A Poetry Thread’: Little sheep in the manger Whistling a tune from ‘M.A.S.H.’ Blue oysters on the half-shell 'Don't fear the reaper' And transcendence made horny Through the twilight. Ha, ha, ha, And a barrel of monkeys Stroking typewriter keys Where were you? Naxos is closed this time of year And Calamari congregate in Ocean clubs listening Wondering, dancing to the beat Of….Africa. Thank you. I'll be handing out autographs by the water-cooler. thefountainhed Your poems have inspired me in particular. Funny how most of them contain sexual innuendo and violent imagery. Here’s one I dedicate to you. I believe I’ve already posted one in your ….style. Kaleidoscopes of cruelty Sadean synchrotrons of particle violence Manipulating the thing-in-itself Where are you brother in my hour of need? She peers into cavities of moisture And regulates my industriousness. I loved her, This vixen of Bathory crescendo Eradicating my desire by imploding My eggs Was I alive before her gaze? No more than today; call me Thanatos.
in.... Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! want pussy? buy a maserati out.... Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image! a helter-skelter tableau of icons that mime and pose and strut
Here's one by Xev I like. Odysseus' Descent into Hades Cyclops wails on Mykonos "Dunst - dunst - dunst - dunst" As I escape Clutching sheep bellies Queen Circe beckons "Holy-Moly!" Thrice I turn from her Descend into Hades bravery is what I feel when I am not brave bad faith indeed! The blind seer drinks Damnit! The oxblood has no Tabasco sauce Please? And the ring falls from Odin's hand To join the eight Ooops, wrong mythology Fly-haloed harpies tear my sensitive heart Bound to the rack of my own nobility I cry against the Gods I wander the Aegean: Hera's bird I swat at flies I am wise (as Oedipus was) Minus the incest, plus the eyes My kidneys survived Apollo descends My bliss! A poet's and an eagle's bliss That swoops up young Ganymedes Wicked Circe! I am a man. I spurn you, Dionysus I fight the wolf Or I am the wolf Sometimes I do not know I am cold Noble I only hurt you because I love you But if you meant one of yours, pick it yourself. I loooooved the one about me. It was so......precise.
here, i have suggestions 1)choose to aim for clarity. 2)exhibit meaning and purpose and motive openly and with courage. 3)choose to make understanding easy even to the average mind that dominates our species. 4)choose to make an honest attempt at lucid artistic communication even if it fails to inspire or be considered good.
it appears much has changed. could it be that the wanderer has emerged out into the open from the confines of her closet, to abandon all pretensions of heterosexuality? i must applaud! now please bend over this will not take too long i hope
I suppose that poem was a parody? You claim that you were in particular inspired by some of my stuff, which I figured you would say considering our history, so go ahead and post one of them.
Well, I would say that there is art for the purpose of displaying reality, normally a painting of a landscape, strifing for perfection in its detail. There are poems, easy to read and with an obvious "storyline", perhaps a personal experience that is a parable to higher morals or truths. That may be poem about love or honor. Then, there is the abstract art, surreal and elusive to the observer not chained and imprisonedby closed minds and complex structures. Only one aim does this marvelous perversion of reality posses, it is just the art for the art, that is the content and the message. Spanning boundaries and possibilities, but not reaching for anything, an aimless path which many tread, to no avail they move, their purpose is their movement. Just the art for the sake of art. (sorry about the crappy "poem", but who cares anyway)
What I dislike about art and lit today, is the way the author tries to say: "Look at me, I'm so complicated!" Don't try to be complicated or simple; just be, and let others judge. Many use usual subject matter and try to make something unusual out of it, with little success. When I see another love song/poem, my eyes feel tired and I skip it. I long for different topics, for different imagery, for different thoughts. I have absolutely no respect for those lines and dots on a painting which are supposed to mean something but don't. True, those lines and dots have to be placed in an aesthetically pleasing manner, which requires brains. But many modern paintings with lines and dots don't satisfy even that requirement. Fantasy and SciFi in art generate quite interesting things. I do not know when I will be tired of dragons, horses, and fairies. But it's a good excuse to at least come up with a pretty image which calls for such classical elements as the human figure in an environment. I do want to see the author fanthasise and come up with things I have never heard/seen before.
O Reader, behold the Philosopher's grave! He was born quite a Fool, but he died quite a Knave. William Blake
Art in in the eye of the beholder. In this sense let me ask a question: Art? Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
I know, but I do not think that everyone would agree with you or me. As I said, art is very subjective, so if you do not think it is artful, do not look at it. Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
Mondrian composed his pieces with care. Notice, if you take away an inch from whichever side (of the original), the balance of the piece will be gone; if the stripes will be of different width, the balance will be gone; if colors are changed, the whole piece becomes different.
Yeah, I had my part of work in art class to try and imitate some works just to get an impression on the thought that goes into it. Well, getting back to poems, here are two that can be considered artful: IT IS GOOD by: Johann Wolfgang von Goethe N Paradise while moonbeams played, Jehovah found, in slumber deep, Adam fast sunk; He gently laid Eve near him -- she, too, fell asleep. There lay they now, on earth's fair shrine, God's two most beauteous thoughts divine-- When this He saw, He cried: 'Tis good! And scarce could move from where He stood. No wonder, that our joy's complete While eye and eye responsive meet, When this blest thought of rapture moves us-- That we're with Him who truly loves us, And if He cries -- Good, let it be! 'Tis so for both, it seems to me. Thou'rt clasped within these arms of mine, Dearest of all God's thoughts divine! I do not think that many will disagree when I say that this poem by Gothe is art. The next one is inspired by a poem I once read in a book, I have forgotten title and author, even the contend to some extend, but as you will notice, content is not the main point. Mind, it is a poem, not a picture: Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!
