In my home town, a modern artwork was removed by construction workers who thought it was scrap-metal. They brought it to the wasteyard. IMMD
Submitted by: Ben
Fave Comment
Really? People who dislike art are just jealous? That’s just stupid. The “you’re just jealous!” argument is one of the worst out there but unfortunately people on the internet seem to love it. No validation, absolutely no merit.
“Art cant really be judged, only envied.” Lawl. Art gets judged all the time, some people make a living off of it.
Some people don’t like modern art. Or any art. They just don’t care about it. Does the fact that I don’t like modern art mean that I need to make some old style masterpiece? What, I need to be good at some other thing to make my dislike of modern art valid? -cl
And…?
And this is funny or awesome how?
It just is. Modern art often sucks. I’ve seen such pieces mistaken for trash abandoned in parks often as well.
Because modern “art” isn’t art but sells to pretentious putzes who wouldn’t know real art if it bit them and is made by hacks who have about as much talent for art as Miley Cyrus has for singing.
This is great because the trash – I mean “art” – got what it obviously deserved.
This is funny because those modern art sculptures look like something a six-year old would design.
My big sister made carvings for one of her local galleries. First she made one that was a really detailed and talented depiction of some historical event. Her agent told her it would never sell. A later piece she made consisted of a chunk of wood that she had taken an axe to and put on a base that made it turn in circles. It sold for over a thousand.
Depressing and funny at the same time, somehow.
Umm kinda funny but mostly sad
At the local university here there is an abstract sculpture crafted from rusty metal pieces piled on top of each other. If it wasn’t for the plaque and base it would be easily mistaken by some people as scrap metal.
Still, some of those things take a lot of time and effort to make and it is kind of sad to see them accidentally torn down.
No it’s not because it takes no talent to make modern “art.”
spoken like somebody who has never done a creative thing in her life and doesn’t understand aesthetics at all.
So, what have you created recently, Jami? What have you contributed in an effort to better your community?
Just because you have no appreciation for modern or abstract art pieces doesn’t mean that you should destroy the work of another person.
I’m not fond of ‘modern’ art’, but I wouldn’t go making a generalization like that acting as if you actually know what real art is.
The construction workers were probably right
Wow, oh wow… This is just sad…
FAIL
this isn’t funny at all. Just because its made out of scrap metal doesn’t mean it isn’t art. How does that make your day to see someone’s piece get thrown out?
Because, he clearly held the art in low regard. He was happy to see it go.
okay, i get it, you dont like modern art
good for you
you probably are over 60 and thus unwilling to enjoy anything new or different to your out of date upbringing
but whatever
I resent that. I am ancient of days yet I love modern art that speaks. This particular piece apparently didn’t speak to the guys who thought it was junk. The fault may have been on either side.
I’m 21, and loath modern art…
im 19…and i hate it
HA! That’s fuckin’ hilarious! I hate abstract art so much
Modern art suckishness isn’t just sculptures, I saw olives dancing(what kind of pothead would buy that?!) I also saw a picture of an American flag that was poorly drawn and was in the wrong colors. whoever would buy that would have to either hate America or be retarded. btw: all of the former are the latter as well.(For all the non-intellectuals(idiots) out there, that means everyone who hates America is retarted(I know the economy is failing, but at least we aren’t warlike and oppresive!(I’m talking about you, north korea, which I left that intentionally uncapitalized.) I know I got off topic, I just think what I said needed to be said.
1) The USA isn’t warlike and oppressive? Have you read any news lately?
2) If you’re going to insult others’ intelligence, you should probably spell said insults correctly.
Warlike, but not oppressive…and there are much worse countries
Amen to that Nina.
And there is a huge difference there. Yes we have an army, yes we will use it, no we don’t want to take over and control your country.
We have enough problems trying to run our own yet alone someone else’s.
What drugs are you on and where can I get some? Your version of reality is much better than the one the rest of us occupy. America is THE war nation. You’re less than 400 years old, but you’ve already had 9 major wars, 7 of which you started.
Next time you have a thought that you believe NEEDS to be shared, do us all a favour and don’t. You posted nothing intelligible (and it’s poorly spelt nonsense at that). I realise that everyone has something to contribute to the world, but from now on, your contribution should be silence.
Which seven wars out of nine did we start that wasn’t to protect ourselves or other countries, either from the spread of communism or the spread of terrorism?
If I am correct, the war in Iraq was started only after the trade towers were hit, Operation Desert Storm- we were asked for assistance, Vietnam- we were drawn into it, Korea was a brave attempt to keep Communism at bay during Containment (which failed), WWII we didn’t get involved in until we got attacked, WWI we really didn’t want any part of, Civil War-okay, we started that, Revolutionary War-I think we had good reason to start that war. French and Indian War, oh yeah, we weren’t a nation then and it was a British war. I suppose there are all those wars and battles that took place due to the Monroe Doctrine but I’m not sure which wars you meant specifically.
America is not a bad country nor are we perfect but we are a good countryand we do what we can and we do our best. If our best isn’t good enough for you then there isn’t much to say. But just please remember that our marines are always the first one in and the last ones out and we our country’s private citizens end up giving more in aid to destitute countries in need of it than federally sponsored aid from many countries.
an american (i left that intentionally uncapitalised) flag drawn in the wrong colours means you hate america and are retarded? what is this american obsession with the flag?
you are the retard. i don’t hate america but people like you make me like it a little less. i’m scottish by the way. thank fuck.
I’m American and although we have had problems I’d rather be American. I have freedom. As a woman I know that my rights are much more protected here than in a lot of other places. As for the ignorant person who started this portion of the thread, you’ve embarrassed me as an American. Regardless of spelling errors, no matter how you would have said what you did, you were not only behaving childishly (really, “I left that intentionally uncapitalized”?) but you’re an insult to our nation. It’s because of people like you that people like Stycond have such a bad taste in their mouths for us. Keep your opinions to yourself, please, at least until you have something worth saying (and facts to back your words up!) The US doesn’t need anymore help looking bad to the outside world. To everyone else that feels anything negative towards the US, please remember that not every one of us is like this fool. There are people here who are trying to change things for the better.
So you intentionally ignored capitalization? That’s hilarious…and who would thank anyone or anything for being Scottish? And there’s people like that everywhere…and worse…People from other countries always take one idiot and make a sweeping generalization about the rest of America…but one wise man doesn’t change that.
Please don’t compare Jasper Johns to some asshole that welds scrap metal together for ignorant clients.
Suckishness isn’t an actual word. Just thought I’d throw that out there.
I think modern art is best explained by a King of the Hill episode. Hank goes into a modern art store and all he finds is overpriced emotionless crap, like a picture George Washington that turns into Hitler, and like ironic neon signs and crap. Anyway, Peggy starts making her own modern art out of propane tanks that actually displays her emotions, and art dealers think she’s retarded. That’s modern art.
I find that people who do not appreciate abstract art are completely devoid of imagination. “wutsit sposed tuh be?” “i like dat one of a nekkid laydee bettur”. Also, who are you to declare that something isn’t art? Art is expression, be it in the form of something visual, tactile, auditory, olfactory, or gustatory.
I completely agree with you
Oh, come. Some abstract art is interesting and attractive. A goodly amount of it, however, shows no actual effort. I saw an exhibition of one modern artist who drew no more than two or three black paint brush stroke on a bit of paper, repeat many many times, call it a tribute to Iceland, and throw in New Age language in the description of it, involving channeling his emotions. To say that everyone must love everything that anyone cares to call art or be idiots is the height of pretension. Oh, and nice job slagging off all non-abstract art in your rush to defend abstract. Hypocrite.
Since you know the workers brought it to the waste yard, did you/were you able to take it home? While I’m not a big fan of modern art, if your town paid to put it up there might be another person who would pay you to have it.
Just because you don’t like it, or think it’s ugly, doesn’t mean it didn’t take time and effort to make. Especially metalwork. Just saying…and this probably ruined someone’s day, or year.
Think of it as a creative form of art criticism: the workers disliked it so much they wanted to make a much-needed statement
I’m gonna get up here on my high horse for a minute and hand out free pieces of my mind.
Everyone has a freedom to expression, be it through art or through criticism to that art. It’s all just feelings and opinion. There’s nothing definite about saying that modern art isn’t art, nor is there any solidarity in supporting modern art being art. It’s all just opinion, and an argument on the internet is not likely to change said opinion.
here here!
So if you dislike the arts support bacteria, it is the only culture that some people have
Good taste win!
Destroying art isnt funny..
and if you don’t like modern art, i would love to see you make some sort of old style masterpiece, thanks.
No one has a right to say what is and isnt artwork.
Artwork is expression and freedom.
It has nothing to do with ‘taste,’ people who dislike art are honestly just jealous.
Even big scraps of metal probably have some sort of meaning and certain placement.
Art cant really be judged, only envied.
Really? People who dislike art are just jealous? That’s just stupid. The “you’re just jealous!” argument is one of the worst out there but unfortunately people on the internet seem to love it. No validation, absolutely no merit.
“Art cant really be judged, only envied.” Lawl. Art gets judged all the time, some people make a living off of it.
Some people don’t like modern art. Or any art. They just don’t care about it. Does the fact that I don’t like modern art mean that I need to make some old style masterpiece? What, I need to be good at some other thing to make my dislike of modern art valid?
“Art cant really be judged, only envied.”
Bull, art needs to be judged or artists will never evolve and get better. If people didn’t judge my work I’d probably be stuck drawing as badly as I did when I was a kid because I wouldn’t realize how bad I was doing.
I used to believe that you can’t really judge art until I got a B in art in Junior High.
The question of what is art is like asking what is beauty? It’s a concept we all recognize and understand and yet it’s something that can not be described. It simply is.
I personally don’t like modern or abstract. I don’t want to have to infer the meaning behind a piece. This was always the part I hated about my lit classes. I want to just enjoy something. I have no artistic ability at all and when I look at a piece of art be it a painting, a sculpture, music or a poem I am jealous. I wish I had that talent. But my lack of talent only makes my appreciation that much greater.
And I feel as if one can, indeed, judge what is and is not art. If I don’t feel as if something is art then it isn’t-for me. If it works for you then fine. I have a cousin who has a really ugly kid but she thinks he’s the bee’s knees. That, my friends, is perception. We don’t have to agree on what is art so long as we understand that our definitions of what art is and is not differs.
I hope you live in Cedar Rapids, Iowa and it was the stinkin’ Tree of Five Seasons.
At the University nearby, there’s a line of white bricks going from the main path to all the buildings and ending abruptly in the middle of a field. When my high school art class went on a tour of the college art building last year, one of the students asked what the line of bricks led to. Our tour guide’s reponse? “Oh, that? That’s our art funding at work.” Turns out they had paid a modern art sculptor $5000 to make that line of bricks in order to enhance the look of the University.
When someone mentions modern “art”, all I can think of is a drawing in Pondus, a comic by Frode Overli (Relly with a scandinavian 28th letter, but that wouldn’t show up for anyone else, so look it up somewhere).
The main character, Pondus, and his wife are at an art show with just white-painted walls, and a journalist asks the critic: “Ferblanco, what do you want to express with your exhibition ‘White Walls’?” “I wanted to cleanse myself, get back to the roots, show the unblemished…” From Pondus: “YOU’RE LAZY!”
Art is art when it evokes emotions because of what it signifies. Art is not art when the only emotion you get is “How the HE** can anyone be dumb enough to spend money on that?!” I’ve been to a few modern art exhibitions, and all I have gotten from them is “How can anyone look at that and think it’s art?” I can see someone has spent a lot of time and workon much of the works, but it doesn’t seem like anyone has spent a single thought about it.
Modern artists seem to be scared. “Oh no, I can’t do something in the style of… (Insert any artist’s name)/something that resembles… (Insert any artist’s name/any work of art), because then I won’t be an artist!” All creative work is derivative. Welding rusted metal together isn’t art. It’s a craft. Painting two lines on a canvas isn’t art. That’s a 2-year old’s drawing.
Art is meant to shock, frighten, enlighten, make you feel sad, glad, depressed, repressed, joyful and so on and so forth. A work of art is supposed to enrage you for what IT says, not enrage you because someone gets paid several thousands, sometimes millions, to let their toddler play with the gluegun.
If you google my username, you will find my most used avatar is a green and a red dragon fighting, intertwined on a black background, over a cup with the digit “1″ on the stem. I welcome your interpretation of this picture. For me, it evokes all the feelings that I want to feel: Love, hate, life, death, a god of dragons, emptiness, togetherness, light, darkness, creation, destruction. That avatar is to me a work of art. A very simple picture that represents the Universe and everything in it. No work of modern art I have ever seen have ever given me anything close to this.
I salute the junkyard workers who were true art critics that day. An eyesroe is an eyesore no matter what, and a pile of rusty metal is a health hazard no matter if someone says it’s art.
NOBODY WANTS TO READ YOUR NOVEL!!! Good: Nice IMMD! I was happy to read that. BAD: Urs
YOU read the novel… and you felt so moved by it you went CAPS & !!!!
Novel poster = WIN
Urs = Epic FAIL
Duck, if you’re not going to take the five minutes to read the whole post, just don’t reply.
Ottifant, thank you for bothering to write more than “art is bad mmkay” and wondering why we get a comment war.
I think that art can be judged, but who are you to say that “it’s not inspirational,” “it’s not real art.” Maybe the artist truly, deeply believes that his red line on a blue background is evoking something as real art, and deserves thousands and thousands of dollars for it. It could be that way to us, too, but it also could be just that– red and blue stripes any toddler could have painted. The point is that even if you detest it, even if you are outraged that someone spent a hundred thousand dollars on what you think is junk, it could really evoke emotion and passion in someone else. So hands off–if you don’t like it, chances are someone else will.
Sigh…now to the actual IMMD. Falling back on my someone-else-loves-it argument, just because you don’t like it, those imbecilic construction workers ruined someones’ day, or week, or month, or whole year. The workers should be ashamed, fined, made to put back to artwork, then try apologizing to the artist. That would punish them fully, I think.
Now, believe me when I say that I’m not angry at you for posting this as an IMMD–if you hated that thing and are glad to see it gone, hey, that’s what IMMD is for, right (turns out it’s also for stupid and not so stupid opinions…)? But it’s still awful for the artist, who may have loved that piece with all he had. Think about that.