February 17th, 2010 / 2:22 pm
Snippets

Is everyone an artist? Or are there some people who are not?

215 Comments

  1. Lincoln

      not good ones at least.

  2. Lincoln

      not good ones at least.

  3. dddddan
  4. dddddan
  5. Amber

      Someday I’m going to walk into a Thomas Kinkade “studio” with an H.R. Geiger print and ask them to paint light into it.

  6. Amber

      Someday I’m going to walk into a Thomas Kinkade “studio” with an H.R. Geiger print and ask them to paint light into it.

  7. Nathan Tyree

      Everyone who wants or needs to be is. Some people have no drive to create, so they do not. Those people are not artists.

  8. Nathan Tyree

      That’s arguable.

  9. Nathan Tyree

      Everyone who wants or needs to be is. Some people have no drive to create, so they do not. Those people are not artists.

  10. Nathan Tyree

      That’s arguable.

  11. jereme

      i hate this question.

  12. jereme

      i hate this question.

  13. Joey Gladstone

      Cut it out.

      You hate everything. Stop visiting the site.

  14. Joey Gladstone

      Cut it out.

      You hate everything. Stop visiting the site.

  15. darby

      i’ve been in general hating these little questions. like lets ask a question loaded with as much semantic ambiguity as possible and watch everyone squirm around it.

  16. darby

      i’ve been in general hating these little questions. like lets ask a question loaded with as much semantic ambiguity as possible and watch everyone squirm around it.

  17. davidpeak

      duh only if they wear a beret

  18. davidpeak

      duh only if they wear a beret

  19. Rawbbie

      agreed.

  20. Rawbbie

      agreed.

  21. David E

      no arteeeests here? if schlubby bureaucrats can be artists, then by god i am one.

  22. David E

      no arteeeests here? if schlubby bureaucrats can be artists, then by god i am one.

  23. David

      There are some people who are not. But aesthetics and creativity are general. Artists may not even be the best at them.

  24. David

      There are some people who are not. But aesthetics and creativity are general. Artists may not even be the best at them.

  25. Matty Byloos

      Actually, 4 people are not. Everyone else pretty much is. Newt Gingrich was assumed to not be, but then was confirmed as such.

      The four include:
      Courtney Wiedlander.
      Darby Ammon.
      Mussel Shoals the giant-headed cat.
      Bill Pullman.

      That’s it. You can now close this post for comments.

  26. Matty Byloos

      Actually, 4 people are not. Everyone else pretty much is. Newt Gingrich was assumed to not be, but then was confirmed as such.

      The four include:
      Courtney Wiedlander.
      Darby Ammon.
      Mussel Shoals the giant-headed cat.
      Bill Pullman.

      That’s it. You can now close this post for comments.

  27. Lincoln

      I would say not arguable by the very definitions of the words.

  28. Lincoln

      I would say not arguable by the very definitions of the words.

  29. drew kalbach

      meaningless question

  30. drew kalbach

      meaningless question

  31. Marco

      But isn’t that the fun part?

  32. Marco

      But isn’t that the fun part?

  33. Marco

      Why respond to it?

  34. Marco

      Why respond to it?

  35. drew kalbach

      because i wanted to

  36. drew kalbach

      because i wanted to

  37. drew kalbach

      no

  38. Amelia

      Depends. Does everyone have skin?

  39. Amelia

      I need the answer to this question ASAP

  40. drew kalbach

      no

  41. Amelia

      Depends. Does everyone have skin?

  42. Amelia

      I need the answer to this question ASAP

  43. Blake Butler

      your statement indirectly implies the condition that everyone is not an artist

  44. Blake Butler

      your statement indirectly implies the condition that everyone is not an artist

  45. jereme

      no, there is no everyone. only you exist.

  46. jereme

      no, there is no everyone. only you exist.

  47. Nathan Tyree

      Aesthetics are always arguable.

      Sorry, I was making a semantic joke.

  48. Nathan Tyree

      Aesthetics are always arguable.

      Sorry, I was making a semantic joke.

  49. Nathan Tyree

      Mr. Cotard?

  50. Nathan Tyree

      Mr. Cotard?

  51. drew kalbach

      the question itself implies that

      the idea of artist implies non-artist. the idea of artist becomes meaningless if everyone is an artist. the only way to give that question meaning is to answer it with ‘no’.

      better questions: does the idea of ‘artist’ exist? is it relevant?

  52. drew kalbach

      the question itself implies that

      the idea of artist implies non-artist. the idea of artist becomes meaningless if everyone is an artist. the only way to give that question meaning is to answer it with ‘no’.

      better questions: does the idea of ‘artist’ exist? is it relevant?

  53. jereme

      yes, i concur with drew. i was sort of surprised to read that statement from blake but i know it is not as skin deep as it appears.

  54. jereme

      shhh, you don’t exist either.

  55. jereme

      yes, i concur with drew. i was sort of surprised to read that statement from blake but i know it is not as skin deep as it appears.

  56. jereme

      shhh, you don’t exist either.

  57. Blake Butler

      i did not affix meaning; you affixed meaning

  58. Blake Butler

      i did not affix meaning; you affixed meaning

  59. ryan

      Yes.

  60. ryan

      Yes.

  61. mark

      My first instinct on seeing this was to Google this: http://bit.ly/drgZLx

      Which didn’t produce any Thomas Bernhard quotes in the first few pages of result, but the top link has the below quote, which may not contribute to this discussion, but which, if nothing else, made me wonder what “humbug” is in German, not to mention “degenerate Jew-boy”: “In 1937 in Munich, the Führer began a bizarre campaign against “degenerate art.” The works of 112 modern artists. most of them German expressionists, were gathered in a large-scale traveling exhibition designed to illustrate what he termed the “degenerate Jew-boy” tendencies of those so-called “artists’’ who wished to inflict their “humbug” on the German people. Modern artists, Hitler argued, are either the victims of appalling defects of vision, or they are genetic mutants, or perhaps simply criminal frauds. Eyewitnesses claimed that in at least one of his harangues against modern art, he actually frothed at the mouth.”

  62. mark

      My first instinct on seeing this was to Google this: http://bit.ly/drgZLx

      Which didn’t produce any Thomas Bernhard quotes in the first few pages of result, but the top link has the below quote, which may not contribute to this discussion, but which, if nothing else, made me wonder what “humbug” is in German, not to mention “degenerate Jew-boy”: “In 1937 in Munich, the Führer began a bizarre campaign against “degenerate art.” The works of 112 modern artists. most of them German expressionists, were gathered in a large-scale traveling exhibition designed to illustrate what he termed the “degenerate Jew-boy” tendencies of those so-called “artists’’ who wished to inflict their “humbug” on the German people. Modern artists, Hitler argued, are either the victims of appalling defects of vision, or they are genetic mutants, or perhaps simply criminal frauds. Eyewitnesses claimed that in at least one of his harangues against modern art, he actually frothed at the mouth.”

  63. darby

      its fun for the question-asker. i kind of see it as manipulative or something for the answerers unless blake participates in the answering of the question also. its like an examination for the sake of curiosity of how subjective thought spreads in a social environment. blake plants a tiny seed and sits back and watches it grow into something, being careful not to offer his own insight, but only to ask further questions or to exert flow control in other ways. it puts him into a god role and everyone who participates as his subjects for examination. probably ive gone way overboard here, but just how ive been thinking about these kinds of posts lately. please prove me wrong.

  64. darby

      its fun for the question-asker. i kind of see it as manipulative or something for the answerers unless blake participates in the answering of the question also. its like an examination for the sake of curiosity of how subjective thought spreads in a social environment. blake plants a tiny seed and sits back and watches it grow into something, being careful not to offer his own insight, but only to ask further questions or to exert flow control in other ways. it puts him into a god role and everyone who participates as his subjects for examination. probably ive gone way overboard here, but just how ive been thinking about these kinds of posts lately. please prove me wrong.

  65. Blake Butler

      having a blast

  66. Blake Butler

      having a blast

  67. Neil

      It calls into the age-old riddle of what ‘art’ really is! One time, this guy, like, brought a urinal to a gallery and he called it ‘fountain!’ Was that art? Was he an artist? Ha! That’s what we’ve been asking ourselves ever since! Then, a guy made soup cans. Soup cans! And became a famous artist! Is that art? Is he an artist? It’s like really subjectified when you examine these deep thoughts really close-like!

  68. Neil

      It calls into the age-old riddle of what ‘art’ really is! One time, this guy, like, brought a urinal to a gallery and he called it ‘fountain!’ Was that art? Was he an artist? Ha! That’s what we’ve been asking ourselves ever since! Then, a guy made soup cans. Soup cans! And became a famous artist! Is that art? Is he an artist? It’s like really subjectified when you examine these deep thoughts really close-like!

  69. Blake Butler

      gallery

  70. Blake Butler

      gallery

  71. jereme

      not overboard at all darby. exactly how i perceive it.

      usually i like these questions because it elucidates, to a minor degree, the psychology of each person.

      lately, not so much.

  72. jereme

      not overboard at all darby. exactly how i perceive it.

      usually i like these questions because it elucidates, to a minor degree, the psychology of each person.

      lately, not so much.

  73. ryan

      You know, I kind of agree, darby. I usually just skip over the little skeezy questions.

  74. ryan

      You know, I kind of agree, darby. I usually just skip over the little skeezy questions.

  75. Blake Butler

      your psychology is all over the place

  76. Blake Butler

      your psychology is all over the place

  77. Blake Butler

      httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuFwIhKLsXM

  78. Blake Butler

      httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UuFwIhKLsXM

  79. jereme

      i know. i choose to speak it.

      my psychology and your psychology (the little you show) does not bother me.

      it is what i see in the others that ails me.

      and analyzing this, all i can say is that i had expectations of others.

      i am working on that. to not have any expectations.

      so what really bothers me is a.) this sort of discussion reminds me i have not achieved my goal to view people without expectation.
      b.) the everyday minds of people saddens me.

      it is a circuitous thing. i know.

      i never stated otherwise.

  80. jereme

      i know. i choose to speak it.

      my psychology and your psychology (the little you show) does not bother me.

      it is what i see in the others that ails me.

      and analyzing this, all i can say is that i had expectations of others.

      i am working on that. to not have any expectations.

      so what really bothers me is a.) this sort of discussion reminds me i have not achieved my goal to view people without expectation.
      b.) the everyday minds of people saddens me.

      it is a circuitous thing. i know.

      i never stated otherwise.

  81. jereme

      exactly.

  82. jereme

      exactly.

  83. reynard

      is this question exclusive to humans?

  84. reynard

      is this question exclusive to humans?

  85. Paul
  86. Paul
  87. Adam

      I had this class this semester, except the professor added Jackson Pollock and cave paintings, and I didn’t come back after that day. The best answer from the class was clearly – “An artist just has a need to create, a deep desire to express themselves”

  88. Adam

      I had this class this semester, except the professor added Jackson Pollock and cave paintings, and I didn’t come back after that day. The best answer from the class was clearly – “An artist just has a need to create, a deep desire to express themselves”

  89. Ross Brighton

      why didn’t you come back? didn’t you want to know why people love pollock so much?

  90. Ross Brighton

      why didn’t you come back? didn’t you want to know why people love pollock so much?

  91. Matty Byloos
  92. Matty Byloos
  93. jesusangelgarcia

      you guys are funny.

  94. jesusangelgarcia

      you guys are funny.

  95. Paul

      PUSSYDOODLES 4EVER!!!

  96. Paul

      PUSSYDOODLES 4EVER!!!

  97. Bill Walton

      Don’t worry. You’re all very special young people with unlimited potential who have the capacity to bring great joy to the people of planet earth through your chosen mediums. Each of you is unique and talented and original. Never before in the history of civilization has there been so many fine young artists as there are right now in the United States, specifically in cities like Portland, Seattle, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Austin, Phoenix, San Francisco and Nashville. All of you are going to do great things and be successful and have all of your dreams come true. And you know why that is? Because all of you are good people, deserving of recognition. Some of you only need to drop out of bed and slide on your slippers to be considered artists. It seeps from every pore, imbues every physical action, rings clear and bright in every utterance. The way you tie your shoelaces, the way you tuck into your cous cous, the way you flinch at the sound of car crashes. It’s all there, baby. Just let ‘er rip. Riches and fame await.

  98. Bill Walton

      Don’t worry. You’re all very special young people with unlimited potential who have the capacity to bring great joy to the people of planet earth through your chosen mediums. Each of you is unique and talented and original. Never before in the history of civilization has there been so many fine young artists as there are right now in the United States, specifically in cities like Portland, Seattle, New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Minneapolis, Austin, Phoenix, San Francisco and Nashville. All of you are going to do great things and be successful and have all of your dreams come true. And you know why that is? Because all of you are good people, deserving of recognition. Some of you only need to drop out of bed and slide on your slippers to be considered artists. It seeps from every pore, imbues every physical action, rings clear and bright in every utterance. The way you tie your shoelaces, the way you tuck into your cous cous, the way you flinch at the sound of car crashes. It’s all there, baby. Just let ‘er rip. Riches and fame await.

  99. Sean

      There is an art to everything. I one summer watched a schizophrenic (diagnosed by some fucking Alabama VA hospital–not my label) cut a yard that would make the pope weep. We picked him up in the morning at the VA. The nurses would walk out to our truck and tell us every morning if he could cut yards or not.

      Most morning he could. Could?

      I mean perfect in the 7 a.m. sunrise. Done perfectly. You could not cut it more quickly, correctly, fucking emerald green. Physics and shit. It was art, better than all the crap I try (blah) to write now (though I could cut an OK yard) and most I read. The word is glisten.

      I don’t even like the original question, but no one is going to argue me off Carl.

      We split some malt liquor later and he told me, “Don’t tell them nurses ‘bought how I laugh.”

      I did not.

  100. MoGa

      My father puts people’s broken bodies back together. When I first thought to type that, I figured it meant he’s not an artist. But now I’m not so sure.

  101. Sean

      There is an art to everything. I one summer watched a schizophrenic (diagnosed by some fucking Alabama VA hospital–not my label) cut a yard that would make the pope weep. We picked him up in the morning at the VA. The nurses would walk out to our truck and tell us every morning if he could cut yards or not.

      Most morning he could. Could?

      I mean perfect in the 7 a.m. sunrise. Done perfectly. You could not cut it more quickly, correctly, fucking emerald green. Physics and shit. It was art, better than all the crap I try (blah) to write now (though I could cut an OK yard) and most I read. The word is glisten.

      I don’t even like the original question, but no one is going to argue me off Carl.

      We split some malt liquor later and he told me, “Don’t tell them nurses ‘bought how I laugh.”

      I did not.

  102. MoGa

      My father puts people’s broken bodies back together. When I first thought to type that, I figured it meant he’s not an artist. But now I’m not so sure.

  103. MoGa

      And my mother brings puppies into the world.

  104. MoGa

      And my mother brings puppies into the world.

  105. mimi

      KANYE ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
      it’s KAYNE the solid dog name

  106. mimi

      KANYE ha ha ha ha ha ha ha
      it’s KAYNE the solid dog name

  107. mimi

      Glad you brought this up, as I volunteer one day a week at a art studio day program for adults with disabilities. The clients present with a wide range of symptoms/characteristics/abilities/diagnoses. I have seen (what I would consider to be) some incredible art being made.

      Blurry boundaries.

  108. mimi

      Glad you brought this up, as I volunteer one day a week at a art studio day program for adults with disabilities. The clients present with a wide range of symptoms/characteristics/abilities/diagnoses. I have seen (what I would consider to be) some incredible art being made.

      Blurry boundaries.

  109. mimi

      *an art studio
      – duh –

  110. mimi

      *an art studio
      – duh –

  111. jereme

      a schizophrenic has no reference of art, and, everything he/she does could be considered artful as a result.

      the term “artist” is a label used to demean others, usually by people calling themselves “artists”, because they feel a degradation to their identity (read artist) is occurring because of the (perceived) weakening of their elitist group.

      no, everyone is not an artist. that label is reserved for certain arrogant, but interesting humans, usually male, and the plethora of weak minded individuals granting power to the elitist concept.

      sean, schizos are interesting. it runs in my family. i gots stories galore.

  112. jereme

      a schizophrenic has no reference of art, and, everything he/she does could be considered artful as a result.

      the term “artist” is a label used to demean others, usually by people calling themselves “artists”, because they feel a degradation to their identity (read artist) is occurring because of the (perceived) weakening of their elitist group.

      no, everyone is not an artist. that label is reserved for certain arrogant, but interesting humans, usually male, and the plethora of weak minded individuals granting power to the elitist concept.

      sean, schizos are interesting. it runs in my family. i gots stories galore.

  113. Paul

      oopsies

      now i wish the dog’s name was kanye

      PUSSYDOODLES 4EVER!!!

  114. Paul

      oopsies

      now i wish the dog’s name was kanye

      PUSSYDOODLES 4EVER!!!

  115. mimi

      Hey, wait. I don’t remember thinking you up.

  116. mimi

      Hey, wait. I don’t remember thinking you up.

  117. mimi

      I”m having problems with the label “artist” too, but for different reasons, I think.

  118. mimi

      I”m having problems with the label “artist” too, but for different reasons, I think.

  119. jereme

      what is your issue mimi? i am curious.

      the term is deplorable, to me, but i am a strange dragon.

  120. jereme

      what is your issue mimi? i am curious.

      the term is deplorable, to me, but i am a strange dragon.

  121. darby

      so whats your answer to this, blake? i think i will say yes everyone is despite the obvious paradox drew raised. but i dont attach an intention to create art to the title of artist, so anytime anyone speaks can have the same function to someone else as music. anytime anyone breathes causes their lungs to change shape in their own particular way.

  122. zzzzzzzippp

      jereme zzzzzzzippp feels you are good

  123. Paul

      Damn this is some good popcorn!

  124. darby

      so whats your answer to this, blake? i think i will say yes everyone is despite the obvious paradox drew raised. but i dont attach an intention to create art to the title of artist, so anytime anyone speaks can have the same function to someone else as music. anytime anyone breathes causes their lungs to change shape in their own particular way.

  125. zzzzzzzippp

      jereme zzzzzzzippp feels you are good

  126. Paul

      Damn this is some good popcorn!

  127. zzzzzzzippp

      zzzzzip’s father does

      zzzzipp has worked in a hospital

      it’s an art, in that like all art its practitioners have deluded themselves into thinking they are doing something that is the most important thing in the world. but let me tell you, it isn’t. and so much dies.

  128. zzzzzzzippp

      zzzzzip’s father does

      zzzzipp has worked in a hospital

      it’s an art, in that like all art its practitioners have deluded themselves into thinking they are doing something that is the most important thing in the world. but let me tell you, it isn’t. and so much dies.

  129. mimi

      I would like to answer your question, but need some time for reflection in order to say something meaningful. (It is an interesting question to me, too.) I am just now “running out the door”. “Girls’ night out”. Check back tomorrow morning, say 10-ish (PST). Wheeee.
      PS – Strange dragon no problem. Oddly, I am somehow “used to” jereme.

  130. mimi

      I would like to answer your question, but need some time for reflection in order to say something meaningful. (It is an interesting question to me, too.) I am just now “running out the door”. “Girls’ night out”. Check back tomorrow morning, say 10-ish (PST). Wheeee.
      PS – Strange dragon no problem. Oddly, I am somehow “used to” jereme.

  131. mimi

      *This was meant to be a reply to jereme, above.*
      I can’t think.

  132. mimi

      *This was meant to be a reply to jereme, above.*
      I can’t think.

  133. darby

      actually, i may retract this later and say no, not everyone is. thinking about it more now

  134. darby

      actually, i may retract this later and say no, not everyone is. thinking about it more now

  135. darby

      the problem im having with what i said is that it implies a definition of art where the primary function of a piece of art is allowed to be something other than art, and i dont adhere to that. so i’m trying to think of an analogy is there some thing every human being does or creates that doesnt have some kind of practical primary function? maybe dreaming. dreaming as a whole serves a function other than art but maybe the particular things within our dreams. everyone is a dream artist.

  136. darby

      the problem im having with what i said is that it implies a definition of art where the primary function of a piece of art is allowed to be something other than art, and i dont adhere to that. so i’m trying to think of an analogy is there some thing every human being does or creates that doesnt have some kind of practical primary function? maybe dreaming. dreaming as a whole serves a function other than art but maybe the particular things within our dreams. everyone is a dream artist.

  137. Kevin

      best response here.

  138. Kevin

      best response here.

  139. jereme

      If you believe in art, then you believe in an artist.

      Truly define art and ill agree.

  140. jereme

      If you believe in art, then you believe in an artist.

      Truly define art and ill agree.

  141. blake

      boy you nailed it didn’t you

  142. blake

      boy you nailed it didn’t you

  143. blake

      my response is closest to andy warhol’s definition of beauty

      which is “either everybody is, or nobody is”

  144. Jhon Baker

      I’m not an artist.
      but I do other things.

  145. blake

      my response is closest to andy warhol’s definition of beauty

      which is “either everybody is, or nobody is”

  146. Jhon Baker

      I’m not an artist.
      but I do other things.

  147. darby

      why

  148. darby

      why

  149. darby

      art is anything any life-form creates, either intentionally or unintentionally, that either a) functions as art primarily or b) functions as nothing primarily.

  150. darby

      art is anything any life-form creates, either intentionally or unintentionally, that either a) functions as art primarily or b) functions as nothing primarily.

  151. jereme

      zip, i know you do. i pay attention.

      paul,

      we are just fucking around.

      blake,

      when i watched that video i interpreted it as I was the martin short character. he even has red hair.

  152. jereme

      zip, i know you do. i pay attention.

      paul,

      we are just fucking around.

      blake,

      when i watched that video i interpreted it as I was the martin short character. he even has red hair.

  153. darby

      i’m using ‘artist’ in its most literal definition. i’m not considering the idea of the label of ‘artist’ or whatever stigma is attached to that, i’m saying someone is an artist if they at any point in their life created a piece of art by my definition of art.

      (i’m devils advocating all this by the way, want to see where it goes.)

  154. jereme

      darby,

      you can’t use the word in the definition of the word. come on.

      so it is anything created that functions as nothing primarily?

  155. darby

      i’m using ‘artist’ in its most literal definition. i’m not considering the idea of the label of ‘artist’ or whatever stigma is attached to that, i’m saying someone is an artist if they at any point in their life created a piece of art by my definition of art.

      (i’m devils advocating all this by the way, want to see where it goes.)

  156. jereme

      darby,

      you can’t use the word in the definition of the word. come on.

      so it is anything created that functions as nothing primarily?

  157. jereme

      you are still putting the onus on us. make a distinction. which of the two?

  158. jereme

      you are still putting the onus on us. make a distinction. which of the two?

  159. jereme

      i have plenty of time. have fun doing girl things on your girls night out. i hope you are not criticized for making such a gender distinction. lol. that would be horrible.

      i am glad you are used to me. i’m not so bad once you realize i’m joking 80% of the time.

  160. jereme

      i have plenty of time. have fun doing girl things on your girls night out. i hope you are not criticized for making such a gender distinction. lol. that would be horrible.

      i am glad you are used to me. i’m not so bad once you realize i’m joking 80% of the time.

  161. reynard

      all or nothing, you are such a gambler blake

  162. reynard

      all or nothing, you are such a gambler blake

  163. jereme

      so because you say so it is so? huh. really?

      art is art because you defined art.

      there is no logical juxtaposition to what you are saying.

      so, i guess art is whatever is illogical?

  164. jereme

      so because you say so it is so? huh. really?

      art is art because you defined art.

      there is no logical juxtaposition to what you are saying.

      so, i guess art is whatever is illogical?

  165. darby

      what i mean by ‘function as art’ is something backed by intention, or the person creating it intended it to function as art. art and the function of art are different things.

      but even for the sake of this, sure, lets say art has no function and just say anything that functions as nothing primarily is free to function as art.

  166. darby

      what i mean by ‘function as art’ is something backed by intention, or the person creating it intended it to function as art. art and the function of art are different things.

      but even for the sake of this, sure, lets say art has no function and just say anything that functions as nothing primarily is free to function as art.

  167. jereme

      so would you say all sentient beings are capable of this definition of art?

  168. jereme

      so would you say all sentient beings are capable of this definition of art?

  169. jereme

      how does one know when they have reached this “artist” designation, as you have defined?

  170. jereme

      how does one know when they have reached this “artist” designation, as you have defined?

  171. darby

      you mean capable of creating art? i dont know. thats why i stopped myself up there. unless one is intentionally creating art, its difficult to a) create something unintentionally AND have it have no function. and thats why i went to dreams, because it seems like the happenings within dreams occur without the dreamer’s intention and serves no function.

  172. darby

      you mean capable of creating art? i dont know. thats why i stopped myself up there. unless one is intentionally creating art, its difficult to a) create something unintentionally AND have it have no function. and thats why i went to dreams, because it seems like the happenings within dreams occur without the dreamer’s intention and serves no function.

  173. darby

      if they have a memory of creating a piece of art. they may not know they are an artist. whether they know isn’t relevant, they just are or aren’t.

  174. darby

      if they have a memory of creating a piece of art. they may not know they are an artist. whether they know isn’t relevant, they just are or aren’t.

  175. jereme

      hmm i like this but…

      what about lucid dreaming. a control can be done.

      so, the way i see it, it is a matter of awareness.

      which is the root of lucid dreaming.

      so i don’t know about what you wrote.

  176. jereme

      hmm i like this but…

      what about lucid dreaming. a control can be done.

      so, the way i see it, it is a matter of awareness.

      which is the root of lucid dreaming.

      so i don’t know about what you wrote.

  177. darby

      haha. yeah, lucid dreaming wouldn’t be art, or at least not as much. ive never lucid dreamt before, does one have control over every aspect of the dream?

      Actually, i’m not excluding things where wrong intention exists, i’m only excluding wrong function. so one can create something intending it to be whatever they want, but as long as has no primary function it can function as art. so what is the intention of creation of a lucid dream?

  178. darby

      haha. yeah, lucid dreaming wouldn’t be art, or at least not as much. ive never lucid dreamt before, does one have control over every aspect of the dream?

      Actually, i’m not excluding things where wrong intention exists, i’m only excluding wrong function. so one can create something intending it to be whatever they want, but as long as has no primary function it can function as art. so what is the intention of creation of a lucid dream?

  179. stephen

      “An artist is a dreamer consenting to dream of the actual world.” —George Santayana

  180. stephen

      “An artist is a dreamer consenting to dream of the actual world.” —George Santayana

  181. jereme

      shit, that is a good fucking question. hmmm. i have only played around with it a little.

      but you train your brain to realize you are in a dream by performing certain excercises. some are: turning on lights, reading (words do not actually exist in dreams but you can read the jibberish), clocks & time, and i can’t remember any more indicators.

      i don’t know why i turned to it. curiosity wasn’t it. it was something more than that. a drive to know myself. to control my brain and gauge my awareness i guess.

      but the goal is to create dreams not just react to them, i think.

  182. jereme

      shit, that is a good fucking question. hmmm. i have only played around with it a little.

      but you train your brain to realize you are in a dream by performing certain excercises. some are: turning on lights, reading (words do not actually exist in dreams but you can read the jibberish), clocks & time, and i can’t remember any more indicators.

      i don’t know why i turned to it. curiosity wasn’t it. it was something more than that. a drive to know myself. to control my brain and gauge my awareness i guess.

      but the goal is to create dreams not just react to them, i think.

  183. darby

      so i’m stuck at: does a dream fall into the category of a piece of art (created in the medium of chemical synapses, i guess?), then assuming everyone dreams, everyone is an artist.

  184. darby

      so i’m stuck at: does a dream fall into the category of a piece of art (created in the medium of chemical synapses, i guess?), then assuming everyone dreams, everyone is an artist.

  185. blake

      who gives a fuck

  186. blake

      who gives a fuck

  187. Paul

      jereme, are you summarizing “Waking Life?”

      lol

  188. Paul

      jereme, are you summarizing “Waking Life?”

      lol

  189. reynard

      sotheby’s

  190. reynard

      sotheby’s

  191. Trey

      Magritte was big on lucid dreams. May or may not have used it as inspiration for a lot of his paintings (can’t remember if this is true for sure, but I think I read it in a book).

  192. Trey

      Magritte was big on lucid dreams. May or may not have used it as inspiration for a lot of his paintings (can’t remember if this is true for sure, but I think I read it in a book).

  193. Ken Baumann

      @darby:

      ‘blake plants a tiny seed and sits back and watches it grow into something, being careful not to offer his own insight, but only to ask further questions or to exert flow control in other ways. it puts him into a god role and everyone who participates as his subjects for examination.’

      sounds like good writing.

  194. Ken Baumann

      @darby:

      ‘blake plants a tiny seed and sits back and watches it grow into something, being careful not to offer his own insight, but only to ask further questions or to exert flow control in other ways. it puts him into a god role and everyone who participates as his subjects for examination.’

      sounds like good writing.

  195. Trey

      Car crashes make an awful racket.

  196. Trey

      Car crashes make an awful racket.

  197. dan

      i don’t like artists. they’re all assholes.

  198. dan

      i don’t like artists. they’re all assholes.

  199. Sean

      The marathon is art.

  200. Sean

      The marathon is art.

  201. mimi

      Yes, girls’ night out. Of the eight of us, two are biological males, actually. In case that means anything to anyone.
      We drank Cava and dished.
      One person wore a skirt reminiscent of a young Mary Tyler Moore.
      One person snarked: “I’ll show those ladies how to wear a sweater.”
      One person told a long story involving Berkeley Food Nazis and 350 pounds of pizza dough.
      I think I used the expression “girls’ night out” to imply “a certain carefree feeling” I was feeling last night in anticipation of going out and spending the evening with my friends.

  202. mimi

      Yes, girls’ night out. Of the eight of us, two are biological males, actually. In case that means anything to anyone.
      We drank Cava and dished.
      One person wore a skirt reminiscent of a young Mary Tyler Moore.
      One person snarked: “I’ll show those ladies how to wear a sweater.”
      One person told a long story involving Berkeley Food Nazis and 350 pounds of pizza dough.
      I think I used the expression “girls’ night out” to imply “a certain carefree feeling” I was feeling last night in anticipation of going out and spending the evening with my friends.

  203. fuck this question

      i fucking hate this question fuck this question fuck this question

  204. fuck this question

      i fucking hate this question fuck this question fuck this question

  205. PHM

      I just laughed. Thank you.

  206. PHM

      I just laughed. Thank you.

  207. PHM

      Esoteria hysteria.

  208. PHM

      Esoteria hysteria.

  209. PHM
  210. PHM
    • PHM
    • PHM

        I think I just posted that three times maybe. Sorry.

    • PHM

        I think I just posted that three times maybe. Sorry.

    • Joseph Young

        our brains seem bound and determined to make patterns out of everything.

    • Joseph Young

        our brains seem bound and determined to make patterns out of everything.