SHARKFORUM: OPINION WITH TEETH

Aaah, what a pleasant pool it is, too. The agonizingly politically correct state-of-the-union glorifies mediocrity and its entailing shortcomings in every field, in a show of solidarity towards all that falls under the guise of ‘Art’ (which, as defined by many of my peers, is ‘everything and anything’). The return of this is the most certain drowning of anything suggested by wisdom-beyond-years – in an effort to maintain the purity of the upper echelon.

These suppressed ideas and opinions are precisely what art needs now; not the mangled leftover hash that survives the dejection of kiddy world. I know, it would be quite a daunting task for an elder to dip in to the vat in search of the cream of the crop. And it can be said that while an artist might have one idea at the moment, they may never have another. But if just a few would brave the shark-infested waters, things could be pushed a tad quicker out of the post-modern trench art has dug itself. All too often the top of the pops engorges itself in its own success, and leaves behind its community and its history. Feeding off the young might not be such a bad idea – the current lack of sustenance (substance?) has made for an emaciated art scene.

Some might say that this would be ‘using’ artists. Well this wouldn’t be an especially new concept to creative fields. Many artists would give up their most valuable asset – their integrity – to be relevant just once during their lifetime. Aside from that, shouldn’t artists believe in their craft like the most devoted of religious patrons – willing to ‘die’ for the advancement of their religion? The true believers ought to be more than happy to give an idea, and to become a link in the chain – however small. Maybe this would also help boil out the impurities floating around in the kiddy pool.

While I do agree that the wisdom that comes with experience is valuable, what we have now is a system where age determines degree of importance, causing a weathering of the idealism that can bring forth a plethora of innovation. Yes, idealism might have no place in the art world, but waiting until an artist has developed a thick skin of apathy and general indifference to their surrounding community is no way to go about things either.