|
October 25, 2006
Art and Death at Strathmore
I don't normally review the DVDs I rent, but I'm making an exception with Terry Zwigoff's Art School Confidential (IMDB link here). Anyone who wants to have a good laugh at Postmodernism (or modern art) should see it. Seriously, it's the art school equivalent of William F. Buckley's God and Man at Yale. Jerome (Max Minghella), the only student at Strathmore Art School unfortunate enough to possess genuine talent, naively imagines that attending art school might help him become the Picasso of his generation. Naturally, everyone at the school (with the possible exception of Anjelica Huston, who dared to opine furtively that DWM artists were actually alive when they painted) conspires to beat this out of him, because if there's anything abhorred more than the pretense of talent, it's real talent. His teacher (Professor Sandiford -- played to cliched perfection by John Malkovich) has no talent, originality, or teaching ability, but he conceals all of that beneath a smug facade of hip indifference to everything except genuine art. The latter he seems to hate, so he encourages the class to malign Jerome's drawings -- something the talentless, jealous peers are more than delighted to do. However, despite the abuse (maybe in furtherance of it; who knows...) Professor Sandiford invites Jerome to his home, where he reveals that he has finally learned how to paint triangles -- an achievement made possible only after decades of self discovery! And yes, there is still a ray of hope for Jerome -- provided he is really willing to learn. Though wholly incapable of teaching art, Mr. Sandiford nonetheless makes it abundantly clear that he is quite competent (and available) to teach Jerome how to open all sides of himself! But alas! There's no real advantage to playing sexual favorites, because all students receive As anyway -- regardless of whether they open all sides of themselves to Mr. Sandiford. (I guess the postmodernist idea of eliminating grades does have at least one unintended side effect.) The snubbing continues unabated, until finally our hero realizes that there's only one way to play the game -- conceal real talent by deliberately substituting bullshit for art. But he outfoxes them at their game. Eventually, the kid befriends a psychotic, drunken middle aged artist with an ugly secret -- he's a wanted mass murderer who's been strangling people near the school so that he can render childish paintings of their corpses.... and what happens is a poignant indictment of the fraud that so often passes for art. Without spoiling the film, I strongly disagree with Roger Ebert that the mass murder aspect is "completely unnecessary, and imposes a generic story structure on a film that might better have just grown from scene to scene like an experience." Wrong! The mass murder subplot is absolutely necessary, and reminded me of Divine's memorable performance art line in "Female Trouble": Who wants to DIE for art?!I'd die for more films like Art School Confidential. UPDATE (10/26/06): IMDB link fixed. My thanks to all who never complained! posted by Eric on 10.25.06 at 09:45 AM
Comments
This goes to show just how base I am. Is it wrong for me to prefer Starship Troopers over anything that might spur an actual axon to fire? And cwdc? wtf? mdmhvonpa · October 26, 2006 10:14 AM My favorite artists happens to be Salvador Dali. When his paintings are exhibited, they draw larger crowds than much of what passes for art. A gallery owner recently told me that many people like Dali until they are "taught" that they shouldn't like him, and we both had a laugh. But "cwdc"? Does that mean "Cut Wires and Drop Core"? Whether that's it or not, I'm pretty sure I agree with the wtf assessment. Interpreting the Foxbot is always fun. :) Eric Scheie · October 26, 2006 10:44 AM Thanks for the recommendation! I watched it last night and loved it. beloml · October 29, 2006 09:45 AM |
|
December 2006
WORLD-WIDE CALENDAR
Search the Site
E-mail
Classics To Go
Archives
December 2006
November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 June 2006 May 2006 April 2006 March 2006 February 2006 January 2006 December 2005 November 2005 October 2005 September 2005 August 2005 July 2005 June 2005 May 2005 April 2005 March 2005 February 2005 January 2005 December 2004 November 2004 October 2004 September 2004 August 2004 July 2004 June 2004 May 2004 April 2004 March 2004 February 2004 January 2004 December 2003 November 2003 October 2003 September 2003 August 2003 July 2003 June 2003 May 2003 May 2002 See more archives here Old (Blogspot) archives
Recent Entries
The right to be irrational?
I'm cool with the passion fashion Climate change meltdown at the polls? If you're wrong, then so is God? Have a nice day, asshole! Scarlet "R"? Consuming power while empowering consumption Shrinking is growth! My dirty thoughts art not codes?
Links
Site Credits
|
|
now the war continues sadly
Bush: We Will Consider All Proposals to Help Iraq