You Can Be An Artist Too!

Hello World! No, I haven't given blogging up yet. I've been afflicted with writer's block for the past few days (oh okay, almost a week now). Life has been fairly boring, I've had nothing to really whine about. Not sure if that's a good thing or a bad thing.

On an up note, today was the last day of classes for the semester. Yay! for no summer school. In the traditional way of schooling, I actually learned something today. (I know this information must be shocking to you, it was to me too.) My history professor has made it a point to cover all aspects of history, from women's rights, to civil rights movements, to wars, to art. At the beginning of the semester, I came to think of my professor as a cultured woman because of this big focus on art. I myself have never had a big appreciation for art, I know what I like, and I know what I don't. While I don't really appreciate art, I used to think I could at least recognize it when I saw it.

Apparently-

I was wrong.

I learned today, that post WWII, some French guy decided that anything, yes, anything, can be art. What is important is not, as you (or is it just I?) might think, what you are actually looking at, but your interpretation of what you are looking at.

Here's an example:

This is a piece by Ellsworth Kelley. Can you guess what it's called? Since I'm betting you're not psychic, I'm going to tell you. Ready?

Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red.

Amazing right? I know, I was shocked to discover the name too. In case you're confused as to which piece I'm referring to, it's the one on the left. I can't be sure but I think the one on the right might have been done by the same artist. Could it be called Orange, Red...?

My teacher says this is an amazing piece. "Look at how the red and yellow make orange stand out." She says.

Ummm, yeah. A rainbow. This guy is AMAZING!

Here's another:

This is called Woman VI. Somewhere in that disturbing mess, is indeed a woman. A woman that was painted by a man, who must have been tripping on acid. Teacher says "Isn't this beautiful? Look at all the beautiful colors." I personally, would recommend looking at a kaleidoscope if you want to see pretty colors. You won't have half as many nightmares. But that's just me.

This brings me to the French Guy who made this all possible. Here's what he thinks qualifies as art:

No. You are not seeing things. You didn't accidentally get high while reading my blog. That, my friends, is indeed, a urinal. Can you see the art in this? Can you see the satirical political commentary French Guy has made? Does this inspire you? Does it make you question life? Have you developed a miraculous new philosophy all from looking at this urinal?

Right.

Neither did I.

Do you feel more cultured now? Will you look at the weed growing in the crack in your driveway now and feel inspired to scribble a nightmarish wench onto a paper? Will you frame it and call it Scribble V? Will it travel to the Louvre so people can admire all your pretty scribbles? Will you auction it off for 100 million dollars?

You can try. Teacher says this art is very hard to make...