"I've been doing a lot of abstract painting lately, really abstract. No brush, no paint, no canvas. I just think about it" --Steven Wright

(As an editorial note: I think it is very telling that this comment was intended as a joke)

OK, I'm sensing rebellious sentiments concerning the nickname thing. So Horsehalf doesn't want to be called "Horsehalf" anymore? He wants to be called "Justin?" That's too bad, because he has a great backstory as a pop-culturally dated but savvy foreign exchange student from Mongolia: catchphrase, "Hey Dude, where's my yurt?" Justin, I'll meet you halfway. I won't call you "Horsehalf" any longer... Princess Tippytoes. The rest of you beware.

Full versions of the most unwanted music:

http://www.wired.com/listening_post/2008/04/a-scientific-at/

and most wanted music:

http://www.wired.com/listening_post/2008/05/survey-produced/

ENJOY! Come to think of it, I was in a band named "Shilo" back when I was at Dal. It was not good, despite the fact that we absolutely killed at the Porter's lake Legion Hall.The band's business card gave an idea of its quality: "Dance, Listen, and enjoy to the sounds of Shilo." I was also in a country band named "Whiskey River." I was kicked out for being able to read music. Although these bands did not feature a soprano rapper, they were not good.

READINGS FOR NEXT WEEK

On Tuesday I'd like to finish our discussion concerning the restoration of artworks. I hope that we get around to discussing, among other things, the claim that artworks are the direct bearers of their aesthetic/artistic properties. I also hope that we can begin our discussion of conceptual art. Here's an article that considers when conceptual artworks should be restored:

The Artist's Sanction in Contemporary Art

Authors:Irvin, Sherri

Source: Journal of Aesthetics and Art Criticism, 63(4), 315-326. 12 p. FALL 2005.

 

Here is an introduction to the philosophy of conceptual art:

 

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/conceptual-art/

I'll hand out some additional material by the author of the above article in class.

 

Also, read this:

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conceptual_art

 

In particular examine its list of notable conceptual artwork. Do the artworks on the list conform to the SEP article's characterrization of conceptual art?

 

For instance, think about "The People's Choice" section of this:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Komar_and_Melamid

 

and this:
http://awp.diaart.org/km/

and this;
http://www.allmusic.com/album/release/the-peoples-choice-music-the-most-wanted-song-the-most-unwanted-song-mr0003320912

Those of you unfamiliar with philosophical debates concerning the definition of art might find this helpful:

http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/art-definition/

 

By the way, if any of you want to discuss the thoughts you're developing for your paper (regardless of topic) feel free. Discussion could be a good source of new relevant ideas for you. Of course, your paper will have to largely consist of your own thoughts on the topic.

Some of you may feel that the topic I've provided for the first paper fails to provide enough direction for you. Here's another, more specific topic.

Sagoff (beginning on p. 463) asserts the existence of a useful analogy between the appreciation of an artwork and love for another person. Wilsmore (Section 2 of "Authenticity and Restoration") criticizes Sagoff's analogy. Provide and support your evaluation of the analogy. In doing so, consider the exchange between Sagoff and Wilsmore.

4-6 pages. Due Thursday October 18. However, since I've only assigned this topic today, take a couple of extra days if you need to. 

ripped from the headlines!!

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/breakingnews/Vandal-defaces-mural-by-Mark-Rothko-at-Londons-Tate-Modern-gallery-173062731.html

ASSIGNMENT TOPIC PLUS ADDITIONAL READING

We'll start discussing the restoration of artworks this coming Tuesday. In a previous post, I assigned papers by Carrier and Sagoff. Also, take a look at the following:

British Journal of Aesthetics, Vol. 26, No } , Summer 1986

AUTHENTICITY AND RESTORATION

S. J. Wilsmore

 

Journal of Aesthetic and Art Criticism 51:3 Summer 1993

The Rationale of Restoration

Anthony Savile

 

The Wilsmore paper consists mainly of a reply to Sagoff. The Savile paper compares tensed and untensed features of artworks.

 

*************************************************

 

The following topic might be fun to write on:

Neither restoration nor willful mutilation affect the aesthetic properties of a painting or sculpture. Discuss. In doing so you may want to consider whether even the destruction of an artwork affects its aesthetic properties.

Write four to six pages on this. We'll talk a bit about it in class so that you won't be approaching it in a vacuum. You can write a slightly longer paper as long as you remain concise and to the point. Don't ramble or go off on tangents. Due Friday. October 19. Feel absolutely free to hand your paper in before the due date.

Within the next couple of days. I'll post another less interesting topic for those of you who find the generality of this topic a bit imposing.