That and free beer or chocolate...
Its all about marketing really isn't it? This 'art' thing I mean. So either you go and see a wonderful intricate oil painting, or a cow cut in half. I think I'll see the cow thanks.
Why is that? We do we love seeing shocking art over the discipline of structured work? Not saying a cow sawn in half is any less structured but it begs the question, was it made to shock and to draw attention first then the viewer can appreciate the artistry that went into it second?
Most viewed creativity always has a pull, a hook to tempt you in. A big name, or a shocking truth whether it be art, film, music. Rather like whoever shouts the loudest at a market stall seems to bring the most profit home I suppose.
But are these marketing ploys a detriment to the work produced? I have seen plenty of exhibitions of artists heralded as the next best thing and came away feeling less than inspired, or the monumental film epic that has every star in Hollywood cast but its actually just coming up to a B-movie standard.
Then you see a piece of art by a 'no-one' and its frickin awesome, or you hear a piece of music that's so good you stay in the car until its finished just to hear the artists name (someone who, it turns out you've never heard of and you vow to remember it by the time you get onto itunes later that day).
I suppose really what I'm trying to say is do we need the marketing ploys? Will people not just like what they like without having it be dictated to them that this is what they like!
Or maybe we do? I don't tend to go out of my way to see something unless it is publicised a lot, it still works on me I'm a sucker.... 'Oh everyone seems to be talking about this, it MUST be good' so I go and watch/listen/interact with it. Not always glad I did either.
But I think for the next month I will try to see the not-so-well publicised stuff, I'll look a bit deeper and see what I can find. Maybe something better than a cow sawn in half?
Try it if you dare and tell me what you find, I'd love to hear about it (but not too much).
