Four perspectives on art

The Arts
1

I’m trying to develop a case for perfectionism in art. This as opposed to “trad” art which I find inauthentic and forced

Mainstream Art

  • Quality is subjective
  • Based on economics and culturally liberal values
  • The artist is a content creator/business owner
  • Organic, but deracinated

keith haring
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Keith Haring

Leftist Art

  • Quality is subjective
  • Based on socialist values
  • The art is political demonstration
  • Examines socially conservative issues through an anti-capitalist perspective
  • Depicts a culturally liberal society that is enracinated and has a strong sense of community
  • Incorporates traditionalist elements and nostalgia
  • Inorganic

jacobin
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Jacobin

Trad Art

  • Quality is objective
  • Based on socially conservative values
  • The art is political demonstration
  • Attempts to “carry the torch” of a past glory
  • Inorganic

arno breker
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Arno Breker

Perfectionist Art (my personal perspective)

  • Quality is subjective, but artists should set extremely high standards for themselves
  • Based on quality and issues of authenticity
  • The art isn’t necessarily political
  • Can be used to create authentic artistic traditions and culture

mitka
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2

I despise the way that people talk about perfectionism; their insipid mediocrity is infuriating.

Perfectionism is assumed to have something to with the trad perspective: that the quality of a piece is objective. And thus, you get elitism and kids getting bullied by their professors.

Actually, the trads do not believe in perfection. They treat art as politics or content creation. Certainly in the past it was different, but not now.

Perfect just means that one is satisfied with no objections; it just means that you really really really like something.

3

I recently got this book that I need to read, “The Four Cultures of the Academy” I wonder if its 4 groups could mesh with this to make a greater type catagorization?

4

If you do find some connections, please share them here in this thread.

I would say that the four primary perspectives I listed here are just variant reactions to techno-liberalism.

  • Mainstream art is about embracing globohomo, ignorant of the deleterious cultural effects
  • Leftist art is about dealing with these issues in a socialist / culturally liberal manner, albeit with conservative tendences
  • Trad art is about rejecting modernity entirely, but trying to reintroduce extinct forms
  • Perfectionism is a reaction to all three, attempting to solve the problem thoroughly

pale eyes
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