Are Artists Misfits ?

[RobC]

take a look at the first two and a half minutes of this video which show a Royal Academician saying it (not me).
discuss...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_pHCziN2IZI

watch all four parts if you like (in order) . Its quite interesting.

 

[Vaughn]

Of course they are, everyone else is just plain crazy. Now for the video(s)...

 

[Jim Jones]

One can't be better without being different. Unfortunately, being different is rarely being better. Unfortunately, I can't bring politicians into this discussion as a prime example.

 

[eddie]

They are probably misfits, and proudly so.

 

[MattKing]

If you have ever worked in or owned a business that deals with a lot with artists, you would know that the answer is "Yes!".

But just because they don't "fit", doesn't mean that they aren't of value.

 

[Wayne]

I am. I only wish I had the great art to justify it

 

[Vaughn]

If you have ever worked in or owned a business that deals with a lot with artists, you would know that the answer is "Yes!".

But just because they don't "fit", doesn't mean that they aren't of value.

I belong to a cooperative of thirty artists -- we have been running a gallery for a dozen years. Not exactly the same set of 30 artists as 12 years ago as we go through changes, but still a functioning organization of artists. The growth and flow of the cooperative has been an amazing adventure...still is. Personally, I make enough sales to cover the rent and time -- and in exchange, my work is up in the community and I get to participate in a great organization.

 

[MattKing]

I belong to a cooperative of thirty artists -- we have been running a gallery for a dozen years. Not exactly the same set of 30 artists as 12 years ago as we go through changes, but still a functioning organization of artists.

Sorry Vaughn, my "tongue-in-cheek" emoticon clearly malfunctioned!

There are probably more exceptions than not, but it has been my experience that many of the most creative people seem to think or communicate differently than many of the more conservative types one deals with - people like bankers, accountants and the accounts receivable people at photo labs!

 

[frank]

Thanks for the link. Interesting to watch.

 

[Vaughn]

Sorry Vaughn, my "tongue-in-cheek" emoticon clearly malfunctioned!...

No problem -- I am pretty amazed that we function at all. And our university art department seemed to operate fairly well with the artist/professors in charge -- things seem to go down hill when the art historian professors started to their throw weight around.

 

[RobC]

This one is especially funny. An artist calls Lord Snowdon (Anthony Armstrong Jones) the Provost of the Royal College of Art, a twat.

from minute 1:30 to 3:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYCNMb8leCI

For those that don't know, Anthony Armstrong Jones was Princess Margarets husband and a very fine portrait photographer. Princess Margaret was the Queens sister.

 

[blockend]

This one is especially funny. An artist calls Lord Snowdon (Anthony Armstrong Jones) the Provost of the Royal College of Art, a twat.

from minute 1:30 to 3:00

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AYCNMb8leCI

For those that don't know, Anthony Armstrong Jones was Princess Margarets husband and a very fine portrait photographer. Princess Margaret was the Queens sister.

There's a good deal of social engineering in British art. When the academy is too long in the ascendency, the oiks have their spell, and when "keepin' it real" becomes tiresome the toffs take over again, ad absurdum.

The general aim is to create a mix of good bweeding and hybrid vigour, artistically and genetically, to keep the art show on the road. The aim of the individual artist is to keep ones tongue sufficiently far up the establishment's fundament to keep the cash flowing, but not so far as to get ones head stuck.

 

[bsdunek]

I think all creative people are somewhat misfits in society. My career was in engineering, and all the really creative engineers I have known were like artists. I think this is getting worse, as, as in my observation (certainly not scientific), society is getting less creative - just going with the flow. This makes the creative people stand out more as not really into society. Not that I think that's bad, you understand.

 

[removed account4]

you've been at it, i can smell the turps !

===

I think all creative people are somewhat misfits in society. My career was in engineering, and all the really creative engineers I have known were like artists. I think this is getting worse, as, as in my observation (certainly not scientific), society is getting less creative - just going with the flow. This makes the creative people stand out more as not really into society. Not that I think that's bad, you understand.

i couldn't agree with you more bruce
i too think society is getting less and less creative
and that people who do exhibit some sort of creative energy
are seen as outliers. but then again a lot of creative people are creative in
ways that don't realate to the arts, like writing elaborate computer code to create
things that have never existed before. so maybe i am wrong.

 

[Vaughn]

OP..."a society without jaywalkers might indicate a society without artists." ~ Paul Theroux

Good artists are misfits a lot of the time....

Then Germany has an artist shortage...Germans will not cross against the red, even if the street one crosses is closed and barricaded off.

 

[blansky]

Art is little more than a desire to express oneself.

Some people are more driven than others to do that, and perhaps in their childhood it was more encouraged, while others is was left untapped or stifled.

Most people do things because at some point in their life they were rewarded for doing it, maybe praise or love or attention. While others, the opposite happened.

So bottom line I think most people have various talents, just not always ones that were exploited.

But there are definitely some "crazy" people who are extremely talented in some areas and in fact socially retarded or extremely deficient on others.

Perhaps the most talented people are savants in that regard and are good at little else.

 

[benjiboy]

I'm not a "misfit", I'm only a photographer and I have no aspirations concerning art.

 

[DREW WILEY]

Maybe this describes wannabee artistes more than the real deal, who seem to come in every shade and flavor, and not necessarily any stereotype.

 

[blockend]

Maybe this describes wannabee artistes more than the real deal, who seem to come in every shade and flavor, and not necessarily any stereotype.

How can you tell the difference? I'm reminded of the judge who claimed pornography was anything that caused him physical arousal. One man's Sistine Chapel is another woman's unmade bed.

 

[ME Super]

Am I a misfit? Well, you tell me. In high school I had two buttons. One said "Why be normal?" and the other said "Don't rush me, I'm making mistakes as fast as I can."

 

[Ken Nadvornick]

Are Artists Misfits ?

In some cases, yes...

Are Misfits Masquerading As Artists ?

In just as many cases, yes...



Ken

 

[RobC]

There's a good deal of social engineering in British art. When the academy is too long in the ascendency, the oiks have their spell, and when "keepin' it real" becomes tiresome the toffs take over again, ad absurdum.

The general aim is to create a mix of good bweeding and hybrid vigour, artistically and genetically, to keep the art show on the road. The aim of the individual artist is to keep ones tongue sufficiently far up the establishment's fundament to keep the cash flowing, but not so far as to get ones head stuck.

Armstrong Jones was a commoner (upper middle class) and not a toff. He married into the aristocracy.

 

[eddie]

I think misfits are drawn to art to help explain their place in the world.

 

[blockend]

Armstrong Jones was a commoner (upper middle class) and not a toff. He married into the aristocracy.

True enough, I wasn't thinking of AAJ specifically, nor of toffs as only members of the aristocracy. More about those who hold the key to the cash, aka patronage, which is a more diverse group in which "old families" are over represented.

 

[RobC]

It gets better, shoplifting as a conceptual artform...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIa-NtGV-ZM