A rather rotund man hunches over a walking stick disdainfully in the reception room of an obviously powerful and busy Grand Signor. The man is but one of many individuals crowded together uncomfortably, some attempting to pass the time as entertainingly as possible, others patiently waiting their turn to be called for an audience. At the end of a great hall a door is open Continue Reading …
Woody Allen Is Coming To Television: Revolution or Regression?
It’s the new golden age of television, and Amazon Studios has signed Woody Allen to create a full season’s worth of it. “I have no ideas,” said Allen, following Amazon’s announcement in January. Having by now wrapped up post-production on Irrational Man, surely the prolific filmmaker, comedian, musician, and magician has something up his sleeve. What can Allen, returning to Continue Reading …
Art and Beauty: A Marital History
Art and beauty have a peculiar kind of relationship and have been uneasily coupled since perhaps the beginning of human history. This close relationship received its most formal expression with the 18th century aestheticians. But art and beauty have always been separable, as the 20th century demonstrated, even if the extent of their separability has been exaggerated. Art always Continue Reading …
The Truth (and some lies) About Art
"A bad work of art is an oxymoron," Patrick Doorly says, "like bad skill." He thinks there's no such thing as bad art because the term does not refer to a class of objects or a category of activity. Art simply refers to excellence or to any "high-quality endeavor," a phrase he borrows from Robert Pirsig's Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. Doorly's new book, The Truth Continue Reading …
Jane McAdam Freud: Art and the Good Life
Here's a short interview with the granddaughter of Sigmund Freud talking about the goals of her art: Watch on youtube. What's the good life, according to Ms. McAdam Freud? Be your own boss. Have friends, love your life. Finally, lead an analyzed life, and she does this through art. Continue Reading …
Art and Artists Enrich Life
Every since we did the episode on Danto I've been oddly making contact with actual artists, both directly and indirectly. I consider this to be good thing, not just because the ones I've met or corresponded with seem to be excellent people, but also because - from a visual art perspective - I feel my life has been impoverished. Aside from visiting a lot of churches and Continue Reading …