Call me crazy but isn’t art supposed to be good? Isn’t the idea of art that it is supposed to uplift us, provoke us, make us think, make us respond, make us rethink? If so, I ask you, what does the above portrait make you think? Me? I think it kind of reminds me of Hillary & Chelsea without their makeup and good lighting. But for sure, this is not really improving my life in any way.
Now, I’m not talking about taste. People like and respond to different art forms and different forms of those forms of art. (Don’t worry Michael, we won’t be discussing (c)Rap today.) And while there are certain types of art that really don’t speak to me personally, I can still see it is art. That’s fine and well. It can be far out or whacky or like nothing you’ve ever seen – but if the artist really knows their stuff, like it or not, you’ll know it’s art. Right? To me, if the piece has a high quality of communication and the artistic skill & expertise is there it works.
But what about crap like, Andy Warhole’s campbell soup can? This is art? Huh? Or the famous piece of Jesus’ head in a jar of urine (real urine, mind you) – sorry I forget the name or the museum it’s in. Another of my favorites is a big blue box in the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, called Big Blue Box. Now, what message am I to get from that? That boxes are big and blue? Eh? In my day I’ve seen plenty, whether in real life or in photographs, on the internet, etc. There’s a lot of bad art going around.
In fact, there is a Museum of Bad Art if you find you simply can’t get enough bad art, or want an afternoon of bad art, this is your place. My particular favorite is called “Haircut” pictured below:
Hey now, how’s about you trim just a little off the top and please don’t stab my eyes.
Then there are these green monstrosities:
I’m not sure but I think they are in the nominations lane for entry into the Museum of Bad Art. Or maybe they are just bad and are floating around the universe with all the other really bad art. Like this one:
Spooky huh?
I’m wondering, is really bad art a result of really bad books, really bad television shows, really bad movies and really low standards that is now the American pop culture? Is do we have really bad television shows, really bad movies, really bad books and really low standards because of the the really bad art out there? It’s something to think about.
What do you think?
WC
Anita Rodgers Mystery Writer 
Andy Warhole’s campbell soup can makes me laugh, because I simply don’t understand, and I don’t think there’s anything to understand. But the pictures here are just ugly.
And “Haircut” is scary! It looks like some place Tim Burton would get his hair cut.
~Kelsey
You’re right, kiddo. There is nothing to understand about Andy Warhol except that he was a nuerotic curiosity that somehow gained fame. And Campbell’s had already perfected the design so, why did Andy bother? My theory is that he wanted to put down American culture – and inferred that we were so stupid we’d see a soup can as art. But then, that’s my theory.
And yeah that ‘haircut’ does have a certain Tim Burton feel to it, eh? 😉
WC
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That stuff is not just bad, its offensive! LOL
Abso-frickin-lutely. 😆
WC
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Bobo is right offensive especially to my sensibilities.
If that s*** is art then what my dog did this morning in the yard is a masterpiece.
I’ll be quiet now so not to give them there arti’ste any more ideas.
Well heck, if Bowser is making masterpieces in your backyard every day – you need to get him an agent and a gallery. I had to laugh – there is fun site called stupid.com and they actually sell a poop calender. Yep, that’s what I said. Although they do say it is gross, never call it art. You should check it out for some laughs. 😆
WC
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‘Haircut’ said to me “Invisible Edward Scissorhands” so it didn’t bother me too much.
But if you move down a few…is that a green piece of shit with eyes?
Someone’s been eating waaay too much spinach.
But hey, maybe there’s an art to it.
I do agree there are some things out there seen as ‘art’ that just make you want to go and slap somebody.
Thank my lucky stars, no (c)Rap. . .
~m
I know, that green thang is just too weird – like a reject for a horror movie prop or something. Bizarre!
WC
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Wanted to mention the last picture: Alien sex in the shower with a fugly dog?
Hmmm…those kooky aliens.
~m
Oh!!!! Is that what they are doing? I see it now…eeeeoooowwww! 😆
WC
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art is merely self expression, it has nothing to do with taste or beauty, although it can be tasteful & beautiful. that is why people can get away with painting a big fat circle on a canvas and call it art, and you know some yo yo will buy it……..for beauty is ALWAYS in the eye of the beholder, and no where else….
l/y
FC
Sorry sweets, but I totally disagree – art is not self-expression. Tauntrums are self expression too, but they are not art. I believe that there are those who have warped our view of art so that we will accept soup cans and fat circles as art – and push this view that it is just self expression – but it isn’t. Art is vision, art is about the future or it should be.
Yes, beauty is in the eye of the beholder – but art has no requisite to be beautiful – many works of art are not beautiful but they are still art. Beauty and art are not synonymous nor are they equivalent in my mind.
l/y
WC
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I think because of the programming on tv, we are becoming more desensitized to the ‘ugly’ that the world has to offer. Therefore, it takes much more (perhaps these artists have to go to great lengths) to ‘shock and awe’ us. Sure, good/bad/evil/etc is subjective, but not really. Someone put those labels in place years ago; the problem is that now only those with an actual brain have the wisdom to know the difference. Or the balls to quit being ‘politically correct’ and say something about it. Then again, who makes us an authority on anything. People ‘dislike’ or ‘don’t understand’ some of my stuff.
So I don’t know, but I agree with you.
That right there.. is bad art, and I don’t care who you are. I know a turnip when I see one.
Loved the Hillary/Chelsea bit; there is something about that woman that grates my nerves. Perhaps it is the fact that her husband insulted a very fine Cuban cigar.
LOL! Oh my she really did let her hubby insult a fine cigar now, didn’t she? You’re such a wiseguy – I’m loving it.
WC
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LMAO!! I got ya thinking didn’t I??! I actually do agree with you on a lot of levels….when talking about ART as opposed to say MURDER, I guess the difference is really in the definition as society dictates at the time. The thing about art is, unfortunately it can, and has been in the past, used as a record of a developing society. A lot of what historians base their theories on revolve around not only writings and items, but also the art of the time. What was popular, what wasn’t..what was taught to students because it was considered important etc etc. …it reflects the emotional and spiritual and mental development of society in a way!
I love agreeing to disagree with you darl, it what’s make this all fun as opposed to silly name calling and personal attacks.
Kelly
Oh Sweets, I’d never call you names – that’s no fun. And we have some great debates. You make a good point about it being a recording of societal occurances, that’s quite true. And if that’s the case then I think we need to worry about our society today – between urine soaked Christ, the artists’ fesces mixed in with paints and giant flying bananas over the West Texas sky I think we’s in a whole lotta trouble. oy!
WC
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well i guess we have to agree to disagree, because many things can be considered art: dance, theatre, painting, etc…and they are all forms of self expression, the actual painting & sculpting kind are “that” persons vision and whether or not you like it, doesn’t mean it isn’t art, but at the same time, not all art is beautiful. For all you know that (1st) picture could have been that person’s view of that person’s relationship with her mom or sister or how she viewed her aunt’s relationship with her daughter, distorted and ugly, or maybe the person was really trying to paint something beautiful, but just doesn’t have the talent. Trust me there is a LOT of “art” i either don’t understand, or don’t like, but if it is created by the hand of man as some form of expression than it is considered art and that’s the plain truth…and only that was my point.
l/y
FC
Well, I don’t know that we are necessarily disagreeing – but my point wasn’t about self expression – obviously the artist does do some of that with any piece but that is not the purpose of art. As to bad art – sorry – if it’s bad, it’s bad – this isn’t about taste. And I’m not into that politically correct approach of making allowances for someone so they won’t feel bad. Some people are good artists and some are bad artists – for me – end of story.
love ya
WC
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Nick loves Lichtenstein and Mondrian. I don’t get it. But I guess that’s the thing about art. It moves some people and not others. But I also don’t understand how a three inch piece of rope nailed to a board, nailed to the wall is ‘Art’. I think we just have to shake our heads, wonder, and move on to the next piece.
Yeah, they are acquired tastes but clearly there is something there. Well, sorry but in my world I get to have an opinion and a nailed piece of rope ain’t art. Sorry! 😉
WC
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my daughter colors alot, and has huge talent for a 7 year old. maybe she can make me rich LOL
Well it is certainly worth a shot Reg! Hey maybe she can start a foundation for poor and wayward bloggers. LOL. 😉
WC
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the bad art show us the “decadency” of humanity, beauty depends in the eyes of who is watching.
sorry for my english, I am chilean
el arte malo nos muestra la decadencia de la humanidad, la belleza depende de los ojos q la miran
I agree, it does speak to the dwindling spiral of society. Your english is fine. Welcome – bienvenudo?
WC
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