If you are an artist who has either attended art school, is attending art school, or thought about attending art school, then you have to read this article by Professor Laurie Fendrich, from Hofstra. It is spot on in every way, about how art schools have really lost their way, and succeed in confusing art students rather than stimulating their creativity. I could quote any paragraph, but here is perhaps the most kosmic kwote:
The heart of the problem lies in the fact that ever since the birth of modern art 150 years ago, all artists -- no matter what their visual style or theoretical intention -- have been riding the great wave of Romanticism, which has been rolling across the arts for almost 300 years. With Romanticism, the autonomous self as the basis for all knowledge trumps everything. And even though the Romantic, "authentic" self of Odilon Redon or Lee Krasner has been adulterated by postmodernism and turned into a constructed, artificial self, today's artists remain exactly like their early modern counterparts. Deep down, they consider themselves to be morally superior to nonartists -- more intensely emotional and sensitive -- and pitted against a cold and corrupt society.
Artists justified the esoteric nature of modern art with the idea that if something came from an authentic artist, it didn't need orthodox social justification. Modern artists defined their work as worthy, and themselves as special people, simply because they were artists. The audience for modern art long ago gave up expecting or wanting skills, talent, or beauty from artists and willingly acceded to the idea that an artist is a creative outsider whose usefulness lies mainly in being critical of everything. Think "court jester" without the humor.
The ideas of this and other articles (such as those by Camille Paglia) that will ultimately form the basis for the Chicago School of Art that I intend to found and open by 2010. So read up and let me know what you think.
