Art, Art, Blew a Fart

Smelled like thanatosis. Helen submits that

one way to tell superficially nihilistic art (Heathers) from genuinely nihilistic art is whether it has any sense of eros. To put it another way: does the word "sterile" apply to the piece of art in question? If so, it is modern and you should run.

Hrm. The Rieffian contention -- which I am still not sure which side Helen comes down on -- involves a countersubmission that it's a short trip from non-nihilistic, erotic art to semi-nihilistic art with a 'sense of' eros (maintained all-too-cleverly at a few degrees of critical remove)...and an even shorter trip from there to the sterility of the ultimate in boredom that is ultimate transgression. The nut of the contention is that 'sterility' is the dead endpoint of the profanation of the sacred (not to mention fertility, which is important but only as a means). 

All of which is a preliminary way of saying that a 'sense of eros' seems like an already sterilized, enfeebled, metrosexualized version of the real thing, and that this weird phenomenon strikes me as modern yes but not necessarily as not postmodern. 

That said, Helen is definitely right that sterile art is scary, but more should be said about why and how: specifically, because it is death-worshipping. We've seen death-worshipping in art long before the modern era -- or at least the late modern (tautology alert). But only after WWI did it become sterile too -- abstracted so as to lie more convincingly about its 'sense of eros.' This is the gist of Rieff's repeated attacks on Duchamp. Sterilize death-worship and it just might seem somewhat sexy: or 'stylize' it. This is an inverse of the proposition that if you sterilize death-worship is just might seem holy -- what Rieff characterizes as spiritual snobbery, and a dangerous proposition: grace may not condescend to descend. So rather than stylizing the mortification of the flesh, you, um, stylitize it.

Comments

[Joules]

You wouldn't have to worry about this at the San Diego County Fair Art Contest.

[generic viagra]

hello friend congratulation you did a great work with this post about Art, Art, Blew a Fart thanks for sharing

[generic viagra]

For art we have to describe what this quote means and we need some help. any ideas?

[generic viagra]

We've seen death-worshipping in art long before the modern era -- or at least the late modern (tautology alert).

[north pacific costa rica beach]

I am trying to find the name of the artist who did the cover art for
the 1987 (also 1991..http://members.tripod.com/~v_m_smith/91scf.htm)
version of "Stranger in a Strange Land" by Robert A. Heinlein...for
some reason I can't find this info (but I don't own
the book). MOST IMPORTANTLY I want to know how to get a print of it,
in any form possible. THANKS!!...

[buy kamagra online]

Yay!! They look awesome. I love how you framed them up. I'll have to do some on paper.

[propecia]

i like this part of the blog:"All of which is a preliminary way of saying that a 'sense of eros' seems like an already sterilized, enfeebled, metrosexualized version of the real thing, and that this weird phenomenon strikes me as modern yes but not necessarily as not postmodern. " is very good

[generic cialis]

Our political world is surrounded by art and images we put together with different meanings, (eg: a good leader). Leaders have used artwork to persuade us in many ways for many many years.

How does art created for a dictator differ from art created for a freely elected leader? In what was is it the same?

[buy cialis]

next month I will present my graduation project. i was looking for about this long. your blog looks really interesting for me what I want to congratulate all the information and the work I do on his blog. great work

[buy generic viagra]

Its of no need to any sense of eroticism. the standard should be high always!!

[viagra online]

Hello,
This is really very post here.... I like your blog It's very informative. I like your way of writing an articles. It's really great.

Thanks very much for sharing it. keep posting.

[viagra online]

For some people the highways became a funny trip and never think of care they must to have every time they go over there. I do expect some separation of views between the introverts and extroverts, but don't know if your unscientific poll will be able to discern that distinction. Should be interesting to see your next post reveals.

[generic viagra]

Refreshingly new article. I must applaud your creativity dude…how can you ever think that something as common as this can do like this. Awesome!!! Keep up buddy…