01-04-2012, 01:42 AM
I too like Rivera, which makes me suspect he is not a cubist. What he was,was a drunken womanizer, which I can live with. Sorry let me correct that. He was a big fat drunken womanizer who was caught screwing his wife's sister. So we must conclude he also had large balls! 
Seriously, there is nothing remotely cubist about his work, he was part of the "Mexican Mural Movement" which always appeared to me to draw heavily on motifs of indigenous artwork as a lot of his work is contained within the shape of an arc, recalling aspects of Aztec, Mayan, and Toltec art. Obviously Frida struck an iconic nerve with her self portraits, and had many admirable qualities, especially her perseverance in relation to the bus accident early in life, and her inability to have children as a result of it. It is also admirable that she could make herself so vulnerable in her self portraits. However in terms of talent and skill she is far inferior to most artist who receive such acclaim, and it must be noted that her renown is based more on being embraced by a cultural movement than any inherent genius in her art. Her non-self portraits, while grotesque, could have been painted by an eight grader. It is not surprising that Madonna, who made her name through shock much more so than musical talent should identify so strongly with Frida. To me, her recognition is because she embodies the ideology of a certain movement, not because of any intrinsic genius in her art, and eventually will probably go the way of most fads, much like her patron saint, Madonna. This is why it is generally true that the passage time decides what is and isn't art, as enough time must come and go to strip the Zeitgeist from the piece and see if it can stand on it's own without the support of a cultural movement.
In terms of Modernism, which touts objectivity, what could be more subjective than art? There is a reason why there is and has been for a long time, a deep divide between science and art. Objectivity arises out of the ability to repeat and verify, how does one do that in art? Is not emotion a subjective quality? To me, the modernist movement has been as entertaining for it's claim to pseudo-objectivity, as it is humorous in total futility. The reason I have such disregard for Modernism, is that I have a strong dislike for any proselytization, regardless of the form. As a result of interaction with such zealots, they have put me off Modernism in much the same way that Christian fundamentalist has put me off religion. Both have left a bad taste in my mouth, and have made me leery of sampling anything else of their dishes. Out of hand disdain for both Christian fundamentalism and Modernism is the nature of my own prejudice. Both my be egalitarian in ideology, but both are also very much elitist in execution (thanks Ray, I like that), at the core of which is this overweening arrogance that a person should feel guilty if he does not believe as they do. While their messages are at opposite ends of the spectrum, their methods of promoting that message are nearly identical. Ironic, is it not?
Dale
PS This is not to disparage anyone's personal beliefs; this is simply my experience with certain people aggressively pushing the ideology of Modernism. Nor am I generalizing and saying that because you like aspects of modernism that you embody these unpleasant traits, or that it is endemic to all supporters of the movement.
Seriously, there is nothing remotely cubist about his work, he was part of the "Mexican Mural Movement" which always appeared to me to draw heavily on motifs of indigenous artwork as a lot of his work is contained within the shape of an arc, recalling aspects of Aztec, Mayan, and Toltec art. Obviously Frida struck an iconic nerve with her self portraits, and had many admirable qualities, especially her perseverance in relation to the bus accident early in life, and her inability to have children as a result of it. It is also admirable that she could make herself so vulnerable in her self portraits. However in terms of talent and skill she is far inferior to most artist who receive such acclaim, and it must be noted that her renown is based more on being embraced by a cultural movement than any inherent genius in her art. Her non-self portraits, while grotesque, could have been painted by an eight grader. It is not surprising that Madonna, who made her name through shock much more so than musical talent should identify so strongly with Frida. To me, her recognition is because she embodies the ideology of a certain movement, not because of any intrinsic genius in her art, and eventually will probably go the way of most fads, much like her patron saint, Madonna. This is why it is generally true that the passage time decides what is and isn't art, as enough time must come and go to strip the Zeitgeist from the piece and see if it can stand on it's own without the support of a cultural movement.
In terms of Modernism, which touts objectivity, what could be more subjective than art? There is a reason why there is and has been for a long time, a deep divide between science and art. Objectivity arises out of the ability to repeat and verify, how does one do that in art? Is not emotion a subjective quality? To me, the modernist movement has been as entertaining for it's claim to pseudo-objectivity, as it is humorous in total futility. The reason I have such disregard for Modernism, is that I have a strong dislike for any proselytization, regardless of the form. As a result of interaction with such zealots, they have put me off Modernism in much the same way that Christian fundamentalist has put me off religion. Both have left a bad taste in my mouth, and have made me leery of sampling anything else of their dishes. Out of hand disdain for both Christian fundamentalism and Modernism is the nature of my own prejudice. Both my be egalitarian in ideology, but both are also very much elitist in execution (thanks Ray, I like that), at the core of which is this overweening arrogance that a person should feel guilty if he does not believe as they do. While their messages are at opposite ends of the spectrum, their methods of promoting that message are nearly identical. Ironic, is it not?
Dale
PS This is not to disparage anyone's personal beliefs; this is simply my experience with certain people aggressively pushing the ideology of Modernism. Nor am I generalizing and saying that because you like aspects of modernism that you embody these unpleasant traits, or that it is endemic to all supporters of the movement.
How long after picking up the brush, the first masterpiece?
The goal is not to obfuscate that which is clear, but make clear that which isn't.
The goal is not to obfuscate that which is clear, but make clear that which isn't.