Is art overall dead? If so who is to blame?

People complaining that music, movie, painting etc is dead....they seem to be right. First of all I am a hip hop fan and I think good rap is gone since Eminem semi-retired in early 2000 (his comeback songs aren't good) and when Tupac died. You won't hear any profound good message today in many raps except to imply to have s.e.x with big bootied censor. I agree that pre-2000 music was much better. In terms of films- well based on my previous thread (if anyone remmbers) I don't have to restate my complain. Some movies are CGI-saturated and I don't even have a word to describe how awful looking such movies are. I know movies are entertainment but there is no need to stoop that low. Even comedy (which I believe is an art in its own right) is a victim itself. Jokes today are sexual, fine if you hear it the first time and they are funny but when you keep hearing it you want to vomit. Worse is the awkwardness when you are watching with a family member. What happened to more intelligent films like Tootsie? Sexual jokes are not as funny as a clever joke.

As for the painters and sculpturing artists. Here is an interesting point of view: http://www.artisdeadbook.com/ I'm not a fan of painting and sculptures but I feel for these struggling artists. There are so many artists who want recognition but it is the lazy ''did not do any meaningful things'' celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton who get the spotlight. Justin Bieber, who couldn't hit puberty, is famous just because of his good-looks and not of his singing. There is obviously someone better than Bieber but are they famous? No, because their serious art cannot make a girl scream (no pun intended).

So, it makes me think. Is art in general dead? I do not know since art is defined individually so it is up to you. But is art being on? Everyone thinks that is the case. So who is to blame? You may argue that it is the infamous and dreaded corporations. I was reading a newspaper article, also complaining like myself, that potentially good filmmakers are not given a chance because producers are reluctant to fund them, afraid that the movie may flop. I cannot blame the producers completely, everyone has to make a living. Though they also must keep in mind that filmmaking is an art itself. Do not intefere with a filmmaker's vision. These 'businessmen' should know that since free market says 'leave business to business'. Apply that philosophy to art itself. Hollywood today is interested in quick money making. Colin Firth was right that 'movie goers shouldn't be treated idiots'.

Realistically speaking however, anyone must make a living. Some good movies flop, good albums don't sell and paintings are not appreciated for a simple phenomena called 'society'. Like I said, people like Justin Bieber are famous even though he can't sing. Why? Because he is good looking. We know he is bad but it is a guilty pleasure to listen to him. Movies are watched simply because of the explosions and paintings and sculptures are not appreciated because they're - that. No one really knows what society wants. It's a go with the flow. So I am guessing that Hollywood and the music industry isn't solely to be blamed. They have no choice but to throw everything just to make a quick money.

Overall do you think art is dead? If so who is to blame for it, greedy corporation or the moronic society?

Art is still around, I doubt every song of the last century was good, many bad movies where made as well and bad paintings too. Just look for the gems.

Watchmen (2009) Is the most recent film that I would call a work of art.
CGI effects are used, but they are a mere tool to tell the story and do it justice, just as the camera angles, slow motion bits at the right time, good acting performances and everything. It all just fits as a whole, the movie is not dominated by the special effects, they just support the cast and the story.

Caro Emerald is a great singer, she has a great voice and her songs are actual music. She'd fit right in with much older artists.
Shes no topmodel, but still a beautifull normal woman with great charisma. Maybe one day she will become better known across the globe, she deserves it.
Just look her up on Youtube, her clips are on there, she also sang Lady Gaga's bad romance once, sounds much better with Caro and her band.

But I got to agree about paintings, structures and all that.. its dead. Nobody ever paints in the style of Rembrandt, Vermeer or other old artists anymore. That was such a beautifull style. Modern art can be made by a two year old, while work like this truly requires a master painter.

Personally, I think only people who cling to their decade's art think art is dead.

Its the stupidity of society, people arent interested in thought, they want monotonous, rythmic noise, they want explosions and boobies, and most of all, they want the latest displays of these things.

I'ts always been like this, there are good bands now, there were good bands in the '90s, and all decades had some good art, except the '80s, the '80s were just terrible. The point is most people are idiots, and all the corporations can do is cater to them, and so most entertainment is terrible.

Until we refuse idiots access to any entertainment medium, rubbish will continue to dominate the industry.

It is true that today's young are all about glorifying the corporations, but when have art ever been about teenagers? They have always been a stupid gullible bunch, and some people never leave that group. Its the ones that do who matter.

I am a struggling artist. I have been making art for a year and struggle to get recognition over monotonous anime shite on the internet. Although this kind of hand drawn art is more appreciable when seen in person, it is hard to get people to see it when there is no market for it anymore.

Sometimes I wish I was alive 150 years ago lol

Originally Posted by EireEmerald

I am a struggling artist. I have been making art for a year and struggle to get recognition over monotonous anime shite on the internet. Although this kind of hand drawn art is more appreciable when seen in person, it is hard to get people to see it when there is no market for it

Sometimes I wish I was alive 150 years ago lol

Maybe you are having a hard time because most people couldn't give a about surrealism, myself included. For me, I don't want art to be "edgy" or "avante gard", I want it to be pleasant and enjoyable (I'm not saying that your art is bad, I'm just saying that the style doesn't conform to my taste, nor would it to many other people for that reason. I personally like realist portraits, landscapes, etc).

I am actually enjoying the comeback of realism in all art forms (yeah, even in animation). If anything will be the death of art, it is over-pretentiousness and the desire to praise and create anything that is viewed as different and/or non-conformist.

Art isn't dead, you're just looking in the wrong places.

Art will never die, it's a form of objetifying emotions, feelings and states of mind. As long as we don't die art won't.

Art isn't dead.

However, there is a dangerously strong 'Emperor's New Clothes' phenomenon within the art world today.

The Information Age has permitted islands of creativity that can be accessed instantly; however, the same ease of access has made these islands proliferate without the filter a major media corporation uses to feed a more docile consumer base, thus causing said confusion.

Musics been in decline since the 80's. There's never going to be another Cream or Led Zeppelin now. Painting probably started to when toddlers throwing paint on the floor began to be called artists.

Perhaps musical creativity will regrow once popular music is written for expression, not fame and fortune.

Sadly true Rock n Roll is dead, which is a shame since thats great music. These days its a lot of supposed singers making terrible covers of once good songs.
At very rare occasions I would say a cover is good and has meaning. Usually this is when its adapted to a different dance, like "Tango de Roxanne" from "Roxanne" Its a good Tango.

And then there are songs that are covered so often that few people even know who made the original. Sadly I have been guilty of that too at times, since I did not hear the original earlier than the cover.
"What I like about you" from the romantics is such a song thats being raped over and over and usually turned into some happy cheery kid song instead of the Rock song it used to be. I'd advice anyone to look up the original.

There will always be good art. If you look at the music industry right now, most of the stuff in the charts is , but that doesn't mean there isn't good music out there to find.

Originally Posted by Ancient Aliens

Maybe you are having a hard time because most people couldn't give a about surrealism, myself included. For me, I don't want art to be "edgy" or "avante gard", I want it to be pleasant and enjoyable (I'm not saying that your art is bad, I'm just saying that the style doesn't conform to my taste, nor would it to many other people for that reason. I personally like realist portraits, landscapes, etc).

I am actually enjoying the comeback of realism in all art forms (yeah, even in animation). If anything will be the death of art, it is over-pretentiousness and the desire to praise and create anything that is viewed as different and/or non-conformist.

lol, I meant on the internet. People do " give a " when they see them in person at exhibitions. Art can be pleasent and enjoyable without being representational. I don't know what you mean by labelling all surreal art as " edgy " and " avante gard " but that just sounds ignorant to me. I am not saying representational art bores me ( because it doesn't in any way ) but I find the exploration of the human condition and the unknown or unseen more interesting personally. Cameras capture things literally. I am interested in the ethereal in art, the human subconscious. Dreams.

And I agree with you about pretension, there are a lot of artists that annoy the out of me because they are living up their own hole and look down on people who are not as artistically inclined or informed as them. That is everything that is wrong with art.

To be honest though, I am more worried about what is happening to the music industry at the moment.

Originally Posted by EireEmerald

lol, I meant on the internet. People do " give a " when they see them in person at exhibitions. Art can be pleasent and enjoyable without being representational. I don't know what you mean by labelling all surreal art as " edgy " and " avante gard " but that just sounds ignorant to me. I am not saying representational art bores me ( because it doesn't in any way ) but I find the exploration of the human condition and the unknown or unseen more interesting personally. Cameras capture things literally. I am interested in the ethereal in art, the human subconscious. Dreams.

Yeah, to each his own. I just meant to say that realism is making a strong comeback, whereas in the 50s-80s there was a tendency towards surrealism, pop art, expressionism, cubism, etc.

And I agree with you about pretension, there are a lot of artists that annoy the out of me because they are living up their own hole and look down on people who are not as artistically inclined or informed as them. That is everything that is wrong with art.

I think that the pretentiousness is one of the predominate factors that alienates the common man from visual arts and artists. It's unfortunate, and like previous posters said, I wish there wasn't a trend towards "Emperor's New Clothes" type fads within art, or pretentious artists.

To be honest though, I am more worried about what is happening to the music industry at the moment.

I hear you there, though I have to say that I am happy we have finally culturally departed from rap.

Originally Posted by Ancient Aliens

Yeah, to each his own. I just meant to say that realism is making a strong comeback, whereas in the 50s-80s there was a tendency towards surrealism, pop art, expressionism, cubism, etc.

I agree, although for me there is no other choice, I was never trained as an artist, I just draw what I see in me head. I don't mean that to sound pretentious or weird.

Originally Posted by Ancient Aliens

I think that the pretentiousness is one of the predominate factors that alienates the common man from visual arts and artists. It's unfortunate, and like previous posters said, I wish there wasn't a trend towards "Emperor's New Clothes" type fads within art, or pretentious artists.

I hate the alienation of the common person from art because of pretension, it makes me ing sick that people can raise themselves on a plateau of condescension to deal with their own personal insecurities.

Originally Posted by Ancient Aliens

I hear you there, though I have to say that I am happy we have finally culturally departed from rap.

Yeah, I have found so much contemporary music out there that was never in the charts, but has literally changed the person that I am today. Music that has altered the way I think, treat people etc. Although i do have a fixation with 60's psychedelic music and folk, I love a lot of contemporary music right now as well.

I think classical music lost popularity in the 20th century partly because it was associated with elitism or condescension, and jazz/rock musicians sought to break away from that. In the modern world, where most people get a higher education, many people learn an instrument as a child, and everyone has access to concert halls, it's not really a legitimate point of criticism. Which isn't to say higher education is at all required for the enjoyment of classical music- it isn't- my mom teaches autistic elementary/middle school students, and some really enjoy listening to classical.

It isn't dead, go to a music hall and you can still listen to Mozart, Tchaikovsky, Handel, etc. Even Early Music has been experiencing a revival in the past few decades, for example there are Early Baroque operas being performed for the first time in centuries. Go on YouTube and you can listen to pieces that music students or aficionados a century ago would have killed to hear performed. People are flocking to live performances of classical, jazz, or world music in record numbers. If anything, the high arts have greatly benefited from the degeneration of pop music/art, not to mention the proliferation of higher education. For more information I suggest reading this article from the Wall Street Journal:

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB1222...Tabs%3Darticle

For music, just look around the downtown areas and you'll see signs in bars for bands you've never heard of. That's where the art in music is right now. The unknowns who are writing their own music as they want to rather than doing it under someone else's direction. I'm not saying they are all awesome, but they seem to be the location of the majority of the creativity in music right now.

Painting, drawing, sculpting, the physical arts are experiencing a resurgence because in the age of free(ish) information exchange it is easier to get people to see one's artwork and get the feedback of a much larger audience than ever before. While there are some more popular forms of art at the moment seem to dominate, every style of art has its niche audience as has been the case since the beginnings of patronized artists however far back in history.

Art is not dead. Art has never been dead. It has just changed in order to suit different tastes. If that offends you then boo-hoo.