The work of art in the age of second-order observation

The work of art in the age of second-order observation(mediastudies.asia)

38 points by cton 5 years ago | 15 comments

barathr 5 years ago |

> 'Beware of first- hand ideas!' exclaimed one of the most advanced of them. 'First-hand ideas do not really exist. They are but the physical impressions produced by love and fear, and on this gross foundation who could erect a philosophy? Let your ideas be second-hand, and if possible tenth-hand, for then they will be far removed from that disturbing element – direct observation.

(The Machine Stops, 1909, E.M. Forster)

https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Machine_Stops

anm89 5 years ago | |

Just reead through "The Machine Stops". That is unbelievably ahead of its time. Great read

tarr11 5 years ago |

This article explained a lot to me about why people purchase these types of things.

https://newrepublic.com/article/147192/modern-art-serves-ric...

anm89 5 years ago | |

That article is really fascinating

AlbertCory 5 years ago |

Tom Wolfe (RIP) wrote "The Painted Word" in 2008 which pretty well summarized all this.

Those can make art, make art. Those who can't, write artist's statements. And those who can't do that, write impenetrable essays about it.

inetsee 5 years ago |

Can I get an NFT of an invisible sculpture? Or, more importantly, can I sell one?

bellyfullofbac 5 years ago |

Just like the emperor had no clothes, whoever bought this has no art.

beckingz 5 years ago | |

They purchased no art, and that in and of itself is art.

teekert 5 years ago | | |

I hope they paid with a large bag of invisible money.

tagami 5 years ago | |

Your post validates the artist’s intent.

throwamon 5 years ago |

The only thing I "learned" from this Salvatore Garau in this text is that this sort of art is but one expensive form of institutionalization of commercial bullshit.

NtochkaNzvanova 5 years ago | |

You might enjoy the film "The Square": https://www.imdb.com/title/tt4995790/. Hilarious send-up of this BS. Try to avoid reading any spoilers, it'll be much better that way.

platz 5 years ago | |

Have you tried reading artist statements before.

harvey9 5 years ago | | |

Sometimes interesting. But I recall an ugly mess on the wall of Tate Modern with a card below which included "...then we shot it with a real gun..." . Britain has very strict gun laws so most people have never used one. Use of the word 'real' left me with the impression the artist had gotten over excited at something which is commonplace in other countries, and confused that with creative endeavor.

lisper 5 years ago |

The line between art and trolling is becoming increasingly difficult for me to discern. If indeed there ever even was such a line.