January 7th, 2010 / 3:13 am
Snippets

“If more than ten percent of the population likes a painting, it should be burned.
Said Shaw.”

— from David Markson’s The Last Novel, p. 68

42 Comments

  1. Ken Baumann

      thinking this through is really interesting

  2. Ken Baumann

      thinking this through is really interesting

  3. Blake Butler

      Markson’s edit of it is interesting too. The full quote from Shaw continues from the above with ‘…for it must be bad.’

      Markson lopped that off. Smart.

  4. Blake Butler

      Markson’s edit of it is interesting too. The full quote from Shaw continues from the above with ‘…for it must be bad.’

      Markson lopped that off. Smart.

  5. james yeh

      great quote, great book

  6. james yeh

      great quote, great book

  7. Craig Snyder

      Strongly disagree for so many reasons. Typical elitist statement.

      The idea that popular art, in any form, is less worthwhile makes me want to vomit.

  8. Craig Snyder

      Strongly disagree for so many reasons. Typical elitist statement.

      The idea that popular art, in any form, is less worthwhile makes me want to vomit.

  9. Matt Cozart

      The number seems a little low for me. If 89% still dislike it, it still must be pretty controversial and interesting. (I am of course taking the quote too literally. I apologize.)

  10. Matt Cozart

      The number seems a little low for me. If 89% still dislike it, it still must be pretty controversial and interesting. (I am of course taking the quote too literally. I apologize.)

  11. Amber

      About two percent of the people liked Van Gogh when he was alive. Most thought his work was goddawful shit. The two percent thought it was inspired and revolutionary.

      Now Starry Night is probably the most popular painting after the Mona Lisa for dumb people to hang on their office wall.

      Just a thought. I don’t really know what it means.

  12. Amber

      About two percent of the people liked Van Gogh when he was alive. Most thought his work was goddawful shit. The two percent thought it was inspired and revolutionary.

      Now Starry Night is probably the most popular painting after the Mona Lisa for dumb people to hang on their office wall.

      Just a thought. I don’t really know what it means.

  13. Blake Butler

      could mean something besides how you are taking it.

  14. Blake Butler

      could mean something besides how you are taking it.

  15. brandi

      loved the book

  16. brandi

      loved the book

  17. mimi

      I don’t think any art should be destroyed except by the artist, or by his estate if the artist expressly requests them to do so, and even then, dissuasion is often strongly in order. Surely there are instances (perhaps many?) where a work of art should not be destroyed even though the artist may wish so.
      Interesting question. I should probably think more, too. I suppose I will, on and off, today. Maybe I’ll ask my students?

  18. mimi

      I don’t think any art should be destroyed except by the artist, or by his estate if the artist expressly requests them to do so, and even then, dissuasion is often strongly in order. Surely there are instances (perhaps many?) where a work of art should not be destroyed even though the artist may wish so.
      Interesting question. I should probably think more, too. I suppose I will, on and off, today. Maybe I’ll ask my students?

  19. Dale

      99.9999% of the world has no idea who I am, and the ones that do aren’t to thrilled with me. In other words, I am a work of genius.
      Said Dale.

  20. Dale

      99.9999% of the world has no idea who I am, and the ones that do aren’t to thrilled with me. In other words, I am a work of genius.
      Said Dale.

  21. Craig Snyder

      @ Blake

      Yes, maybe so.

  22. Craig Snyder

      @ Blake

      Yes, maybe so.

  23. Dale

      The masses like homogenization. That’s not an opinion. That’s a law of nature. Anything that appeals to the collective tastes bland. It has to be. That doesn’t mean it can’t taste good. It just means it doesn’t taste as good as it could.

  24. Dale

      The masses like homogenization. That’s not an opinion. That’s a law of nature. Anything that appeals to the collective tastes bland. It has to be. That doesn’t mean it can’t taste good. It just means it doesn’t taste as good as it could.

  25. Craig Snyder

      @ Dale

      Strongly disagree. Your comments comprise a generalization. Generalizations are always untrue. Their usefulness is in giving us a frame of reference.

      A lot of people liked Hemingway’s novels. ‘The masses’ liked Thomas Wolfe’s ‘Look Homeward, Angel.

      Use the force, Luke.

  26. Craig Snyder

      @ Dale

      Strongly disagree. Your comments comprise a generalization. Generalizations are always untrue. Their usefulness is in giving us a frame of reference.

      A lot of people liked Hemingway’s novels. ‘The masses’ liked Thomas Wolfe’s ‘Look Homeward, Angel.

      Use the force, Luke.

  27. ryan

      ‘Generalizations are always untrue.’

      ?

  28. ryan

      ‘Generalizations are always untrue.’

      ?

  29. Craig Snyder

      I know very ironic isn’t it?

  30. Craig Snyder

      I know very ironic isn’t it?

  31. Craig Snyder

      @ Blake

      Should have said (automatically) less worthwhile.

  32. Craig Snyder

      @ Blake

      Should have said (automatically) less worthwhile.

  33. Ken Baumann

      yes.

  34. Ken Baumann

      yes.

  35. Muzzy

      @ Craig:

      Comments compose a generalization. The generalization comprises comments.

  36. Muzzy

      @ Craig:

      Comments compose a generalization. The generalization comprises comments.

  37. Dale

      Craig, you remind me of the guy who told me, “There is no truth,” with a straight face.

  38. Dale

      Craig, you remind me of the guy who told me, “There is no truth,” with a straight face.

  39. mts

      Dale, you remind me of a guy who told me a lie with a crooked face.

  40. mts

      Dale, you remind me of a guy who told me a lie with a crooked face.

  41. Craig Snyder

      I’m not sure what the big deal is. I thought my point was well made. But maybe I am missing something. If you say ‘Billy Spears cannot dunk’ you are correct for Billy is a fat white little turd. If you say ‘white men cannot dunk’ this generalization may (or may not) be generally true but is obviously not specifically true.

      But I welcome all logical smack-backs.

  42. Craig Snyder

      I’m not sure what the big deal is. I thought my point was well made. But maybe I am missing something. If you say ‘Billy Spears cannot dunk’ you are correct for Billy is a fat white little turd. If you say ‘white men cannot dunk’ this generalization may (or may not) be generally true but is obviously not specifically true.

      But I welcome all logical smack-backs.