Comments on Fluffytek Art Blog: It’s all about me, me, me

Yea...what Mr. Wood said (sarcastically poking fun...

2008-01-22T22:51:00.000Z

Yea...what Mr. Wood said (sarcastically poking fun at myself in a fist pumping "bandwagon jumping" partying beer chugging type of way.)!! In a nutshell...(and since my only experience is myself, that is all I can comment on), I absolutely enjoy exhibiting my work, ....but honestly I don't care if others like my work..or hate it. I am proud in stating that EVERYTHING I do artistically is for self...yes...for Ego. I am confident...and somewhat cocky. Always have been..always will be I guess. Not that I am patterning myself towards this goal (as I was a cocky confident 10 year old)... I see nothing wrong with being confident, even overly confident in what one does. I was a Marine....we can do anything (just ask us ;-)).

But on the contrary, I am highly unskilled in debate, or incapable of original thought... I therefore offer American Heritages definition of ego:

America Heritage defines Ego as:

1. The self, especially as distinct from the world and other selves.

2. In psychoanalysis, the division of the psyche that is conscious, most immediately controls thought and behavior, and is most in touch with external reality.

Yes...I create for Ego....and am surprised that others do not understand this concept. Do others create for others? Do they crave acceptance?

Since we beat Trigger up in a previous post....lets beat on Mr. Ed a bit. What is Art?... Quite frankly....WHO CARES???!!! Everyone has a different definition. What works best for the dreaded "ego" (or self) is what works best.

I am reminded of a discussion with an Art Educator last year, he stated that children should be taught what is good and what is bad art. I ask him...OK...what is bad art? He said "a car bumper crumbled up and presented as art"..I said..."ok..what is good art"...he said .."the classics...Michelangelo..Rembrandt .etc." (by the way..if you use the Rembrandt style of lighting your plagiarizing). I said..OK....what If I don't like those styles?..and I am moved deeply by the bumper? This is not a plausible situation in his mind...WHY...because one can not dictate artistic taste, style good or bad!!! Its a moot point in my book. And by the way...he HATES photography!!! Brushes it off as not being an art form. And hates any of us that have had any success in this genre. Based upon his Masters Degree and teaching position and view of Photographers, ...if we use a camera to create our art...we can not claim to be an artist (I love this country!!!!!).. So may opinions...so little time.

Its all good with me. I'll just keep on doing what I do... It works for me.

Willlburr...quit beating me....

OK..Mr. Ed....we'll leave you alone now..and remember, like all of us....I have not a clue what I am talking about. Just an opinion.

bt

To paraphrase a U.S. Supreme Court Justice who, at...

2008-01-21T20:27:00.000Z

To paraphrase a U.S. Supreme Court Justice who, at the time, was addressing porn, I can't define art but I know it when I see it.

This kind of subjectiveness is probably why so many photographers believe that other photographers are ripping off their art: They perceive their own work as "art" and anything that is remotely similar is nothing more than an inferior knock-off of their own work.

It might be that the science and technology necessary to produce photographic images are what limits the artistic originality of photographs, i.e., limits them in terms of making them all seem, to some degree, derivative of other photographs.

I feel I shot my wad in the last post so will let ...

2008-01-21T00:14:00.000Z

I feel I shot my wad in the last post so will let others speak today.

Please all, and you will please none.
Author: Aesop 620-560 BC,

The person who seeks all their applause from outside has their happiness in another's keeping .
Author: Claudius Claudianus 340-410, Egyptian Latin Poet

There just isn't any pleasing some people. The trick is to stop trying.
Author: Joel Rosenberg

Don't mind criticism. If it is untrue, disregard it; if unfair, keep from irritation; if it is ignorant, smile; if it is justified it is not criticism, learn from it.
Author: Source Unknown

and one I use all the time.

Don't worry about nothing, because nothing going to be alright.

Lin - Thank you again for your kind words. I have thought about my own blog but I'm afraid it would consume me.

D.L. Wood

Indeed. If your idea of art is the visual express...

2008-01-20T21:24:00.000Z

Indeed. If your idea of art is the visual expression of your life and your loves, passions, etc., then some Flickr photo streams I've seen really do qualify. I'm serious.

A couple of random examples:

flickr one

flickr two

Wow. This is some of the best writing I've read i...

2008-01-20T20:46:00.000Z

Wow. This is some of the best writing I've read in months...and I think you've hit the nail on the head, on all aspects. Thank you, for sharing your deeper thoughts with the rest of us. As always, I find it more then inspiring.

As for anonymous' comment.. it sounds a bit too familiar. But, I find the cynicism of others, like this person... the cynicism, of romanticism in art NOT driving nearly all the greatest pieces ever created (even the kid with the phonecam)... to be the arguement of one that doesn't know what it's like to live with art AS your life, or feel true passion for what you create. Not necessarily photography.. but even music or any other art. To be trying to make a living at it, and having to deal daily with others criticism and still look in the mirror every morning and be able to believe you have something worth sharing. Something original, and true to YOUR personal passion.

Hugs to you.. and thank you for such thought provoking writing!

Sometimes, I think we've all seen too many movies....

2008-01-20T15:53:00.000Z

Sometimes, I think we've all seen too many movies. This idea that "art is life" and the romanticized "tortured artist" schtick just wears thin. "MY nude woman standing in an old building is a sublimely original statement on the human condition while YOUR nude woman standing in a old building is obviously derivative and hackneyed." Give me a break.

I think anyone who goes through the process of creating wants it to be seen and recognized, especially those who most urgently protest that they only create for themselves, claiming to be oblivious to what the masses want (and might purchase).

Realistically, compared to the output of virtually every "artist," there's a lot more love and life and joy in the average mother's snapshot of her kids playing in the backyard, or a teenage girl taking camera phone pictures of her friends goofing for the camera. But that's life not art. Or is it?