Kristin's reading response Mod. vs. Post-Mod. etc.

Aren't we continuously trying to do something new or create a new epoch in art? It seems as thought artists are constantly trying to uncover the next big thing or in terms of history are always trying to be avant-garde. In terms of our behavior, we are simply following in the footsteps of the artists before us, trying to be something vastly different than our predecessors (which I find funny since that is exactly what so many of them were trying to do). I wonder though, does it ever just get too ridiculous? I mean, sometimes aren’t there artists who you think that the only reason they are in the spotlight is because whatever they are doing IS different but simply ridiculous at the same time. It reminds me of this show I saw on television, one of the cooking shows. They were trying to be so extreme and do something so out of the ordinary that they had chefs cook sand. I mean, COME ON! Yes, it is different but who wants to eat sand? At what point do you say that different isn’t always good and you aren’t as smart as you think you are…you are eating sand!

I feel that there are some artists selling just to see what they can convince you to buy—metaphorically speaking as well as monetarily. It’s like the Sistine Chapel ceiling before it was cleaned and all of the great insight that historians and art critics gave as to why the muted color palette was so important blah blah blah….. I don’t mean Michelangelo was trying to mislead us, I mean that some people can make something out of nothing or candle soot should I say?