Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Endless Lists

Enough already! Why is it that every publication, online site, and random blog with delusions of grandeur thinks that creating a list of something is the way to go? The latest offender is The Times and their list of the greatest artists of the 20th century. I don't necessarily have a beef with any of the artists on the list, or even what order they're in, but it's really meaningless, is it not? I would put Frida Kahlo at the top, but what is that worth? How do you compare Monet and Jeff Koons anyway? I'm actually laughing to myself right now because I despise Koons' work. It's just so vapid without even a bare whiff of irony about its own vapidity. Totally worthless, imo.
And therein lies the rub. Art is subjective, all opinion, so what value does a list of great artists really hold? None, and yet I scoured the list seeing if artists that I admire were included (yes and no). So what does that say about me? I'm scrutinizing something that I don't respect in the hopes that some of my personal choices will be included and then somehow I'm validated in my opinions and tastes!
Right?

3 comments:

drollgirl said...

haha! these best of lists get everybody riled up.

and koons. GOD. he is one irritating and successful artist. the thing that rubs me the most about him is that he doesn't even make his own art. he has factory workers cranking it out. that always sickens me -- i like when artists do it all on their own. oh. and his porn shots with his wife were simply revolting.

jennifer from pittsburgh said...

Koons is a fellow Pennsylvanian, and I should defend him, but I despise his work. Beyond soulless. Nothing but mass produced dreck pawned off on syncophants and idiots. There's not one kind thing I can say about his work.

gypsywee said...

OMG--I HATE Koons...what a dumb ass. And I totally agree about Frida. My little cabin is peppered with her work and she was the subject of my thesis. Good taste Jannifer!