i would go to new hampshire
I am currently sitting at the pub across the street from my house. I had intended to stay here for another hour or so writing, but they just turned off the Tom Waits and turned on the television.
It is amazing how much I fucking despise television.
If I hadn’t just bought another glass of wine, I would be on my way home. I could of course go into a long discussion of the reasons why I so dislike television, but frankly it bores me. {The discussion that is} Television itself makes me cringe. My skin crawls and twists, and I begin to feel a sense of hopelessness and unbridled tension. I’ve pondered that this may be due to the fact that I watched it only when I was sick as a child {which was terribly often} and therefore I associate this predictable blue box with illness. But it goes quite a bit beyond than that. It is quite frankly sad to watch the people in here rise from their seats and gather in the room where the box is on. Jesus. Point and case being, that it has stripped me of the rush of creativity I was feeling, and replaced it with angst. I imagine it does the same for most people, only they aren’t quite as aware of the dying off. So I divert my attention to the fireplace at my side. I recall so well the fires around the holidays at my parent’s house. Lying about on the floor with dogs and tea and a sea of blankets. And so today I drove Kristina to the airport. I envy that she gets to fly somewhere for the holidays. As romantically absurd as it is, I wish I could fly off somewhere and see a different piece of the world for a few days. She wore sandals and was brimming with the excitement of a young child. Perhaps I would go New Hampshire or Connecticut. Missouri. Maine.
Posted by jeff pitcher at November 26, 2003 10:17 PM
....................................
Should I start a “top 10 things that make me cringe list”?
10. diamonds
9. gold
8. flashy cars, particularly sportscars
7. men (and women) who drive flashy cars
6. men who think that women are drawn to flashy cars
5. mindless trend followers; people who lack individuality (relating to number 4…)
4. people who wear absolutely meaningless tattoos simply b/c “everyone is doing it”; and those sporting dragon tattoos - hey, everyone wishes to embody the spirit of a dragon, but when you don’t, you just don’t
3. wannabes (also see number 1)
2. people who interpret self-worth by the price of materialistic items they don or flaunt
1. people who take up drawing/painting/music/the arts with only the intent to brag or boast when the so-called art they produce is pure, meaningless crap
Actually, I’d like to revise #1 slightly - I don’t cringe at the thought of these people, I simply pity them. Call me harsh, but I can’t help feeling this. This is my extreme thought on art – you are either born to do it, or you’re not. You can’t take art classes and suddenly claim you’re an artist (nor can you glue together some buttons, metals and other rubbish you dig up from under your sofa cushions and turn into an atrocious pile of shit and call it sculpture). Art cannot be taught, “real” art, that is. Yes, you can learn the technicalities behind it – depth perception, color wheels, contours/lines, the fickleness of certain mediums, etc., but you just can’t teach the deeper meaning behind it, the visions/images that only true artists can see or feel. This is why I am against all art schools. How can you call it art when a teacher dictates what or how you should feel? To draw/paint pathetic still life, nude models, etc. that/who have no meaning in your life whatsoever?
And on superficiality…there are these females in my karate class who incessantly whine and cry over their nails breaking or calluses forming on their feet or knuckles scarring. For heaven’s sake, this is karate, not a fucking beauty pageant!!! I am always THIS close to kicking the shit out of them, but I constantly have to practice self-restraint. I retreat to a darkened corner of the dojo, taking deep breaths while channeling the chi into my stretches, punches and kicks instead. Nothing irritates me more than women (and men) who focus a great deal of energy on their personal appearance. Basic grooming, yes. Extensive, self-absorbed daily make-overs, no. Beauty comes from within, or do they not get that???
Whew!
Posted by: hidden dragon at December 1, 2003 11:11 AM
Though much of your post was understandable (we all have things that make us cringe), I disagree with you, Hidden Dragon, when it comes to art…. Not everyone can create art that is accessible to the masses but everyone can create art…. Even if a button sculpture is created and you or I may not find it aesthetically pleasing there is a good chance that the person that took the time to explore these materials, and the creative process learned a bit more about themselves, or buttons, or expression.…
What if a sculptor who uses Spam to mold trucks is not appreciated or understood in his lifetime but is appreciated as a genius centuries later? Will he be an artist then, or now?
To me the action of creating art makes an artist.
Posted by: mike Schwartz at December 1, 2003 03:25 PM
As much as it pains me, I must concur with Mike on what others percieve as art. A good friend explained to me that although I may think that a crucifix submerged in urine is NOT art, it may have some artistic relavence to another. Christ. Well, not Christ but you know what I mean. I believe that intent of the artist has much to do blah, blah. 'coarse, how often is the artist around to explain his or her intent.
Gold, diamonds, flashy cars, I appreciate all and own none. Yet.
Hidden Dragon, you must aspire to be the only student in the dojo. One with your artform. As I am the only one posting here, typing to myself.
John Rensing
Posted by: John Rensing at December 1, 2003 10:22 PM
P.S. hidden brina dragon seems to be just one more person here full of Anger and Vitriol. My God, it's an epidemic. At least I haven't threatened to hit anyone. Let's keep an eye on her, shall we?
John
Posted by: John Rensing at December 1, 2003 11:46 PM
Mike – I agree with you, particularly on the spam-molded truck example. Art does not necessarily have to be aesthetically pleasing. (It is my error to not have made myself clear earlier.) If someone creates a pile of shit (literally), and it truly meant something to him, then it IS art. I’d prefer a meaningful pile of shit (though I’d have to admire it from a distance with noseplugs) over another mass-produced Renoir.
Posted by: hidden dragon at December 3, 2003 10:15 AM
