Art and Tradition, or Why Things Must Suck
Bill Cleere
however you want to characterize the dominant force in our
society (I try not to think about it, myself), stifles creativity.
I don't think that's the case, at least not in the sense that
artistic expression, originality, creativity are overtly suppressed.
I think the problem is that an artist has to work with *something*.
That may be an existing tradition within which to grow and
possibly to enrich it.
It may be an existing tradition to rebel against. But it has to
be *something*.
Take jazz, for example. There are any number of superbly
competent, well-trained, dedicated, talented players out
there. It's absurd to think that there aren't as many, if not
more, than in, say, the late Forties. You can to UCLA
or NYU or clubs in your own city and hear trumpet players
with the talent, drive and commitment of Red Rodney, Kenny
Dorham, Clifford Brown, Fats Navarro, Chet Baker,
all these guys who were able to create great new things
based on what Parker and Gillespie and Monk and
Powell had invented.
But what can today's players *do* that hasn't been done? They
can play very fine variations on established themes, or hark back
to Ellington and Parker and try some new changes on their
material, but is that enough for the really creative souls?
Rock musicians are in the same boat. Where is there to go?
The ones, for example, who tried to find a way to create
something in extended forms came up with some good and
interesting stuff, but it created no momentum and no apparent
possibilities to get a real thing going. "Rock Opera" is a sad
phrase, really, not because some of it wasn't worthwhile, but
because the term itself signifies a dead end. Rock and opera
don't mix in practical terms as a path toward large-scale
musical works -- "Rock Opera" is merely the best jerry-rig that
anybody could come up with. (My ill-informed opinion is
that ambitious rock musicians should be trying to find their
way to film scores -- sort of sneaking the Wagnerian total
work of art into Hollywood while no one is looking. It would
beat the endless recycling of Richard Strauss and Sibelius by
the John Williamses and Jerry Goldsmiths.)
As for visual artists -- what are *they* to do? Special effects,
and that's it. Everything else *that we know of* has been
*done* and *overdone*. Suppose you're a rebel...What are
you supposed to rebel *against*? The tyranny of Abstract
Expressionism? Done to death, years ago, no more satisfying
than revolting against the tyranny of representationalism or
Classical figure-painting. Surrealism? Turned into the apotheosis
of boredom. Blasphemy? If it wasn't for politicians
like Giuliani looking for campaign issues, no one would even
notice it. Attacks on the status quo, the rulers, the elite?
No one responds to that because there is no tradition in
the United States of art as politics, any more than there is of
poetry as an essential human activity.
I don't even want to think about what it must be like to
be a serious and ambitious poet today.
Maybe at some point we can actually take advantage of
Communism's Fall to learn something from the Russians,
like poetry being the bread and wine of the soul,
instead of importing gangsters and making deals with
NKVD men.
Something will come of this which is altogether new. At least,
I hope so. Probably the idea of art itself will radically change.
For the moment, though, it's a place without stop signs. You
can't stop and obey the tradition, and you can't rebel and run
the sign. There aren't any signs at all. There's no direction
to choose which is not as random as any other direction.
Of course, none of these are original thoughts. Lots of people
have said the same thing. I'm only saying it because I see it
myself more clearly all the time.
-- Bill Cleere
"I prefer the pleasure of writing bits of nonsense to that of
wearing an embroidered coat which costs 800 francs." (Stendahl)
±
As a musician that was good enough to make a living off of it for a
decade, I can tell you a few basics from my side of the fence.
There's no venues - there's places for techno DJ's to spin, but no spots
where you can just set-up and play, even for free.
I'm sure this is partially a result of living in San Diego, where
culture is appreciated even less than LA.
Don't forget, during their creative heyday, the Red Rodney's of jazz
were lucky to pay the rent, and I can remember a time when his ilk were
considered persona non grata.
Listen, there's always new creative ground being broke all over, I can
tell you that because I've witnessed it myself, the real story is how
business has a tight stranglehold over the creative process,
homogenizing all in its path.
This is why the net is the last frontier, a place were like-minded
people can communicate and exchange ideas, I truly feel that because of
it we will soon be on-track, as far as pushing the creative envelope
goes.
Obviously, the US government is upset that so much unfettered
information goes on underneath their nose, between fallout of 9/11 and
the companies that hold copyright over creative content, I expect a big
push for some sort of firewall of sorts, kinda like China.
georg
>
> I don't even want to think about what it must be like to
> be a serious and ambitious poet today.
The only way to be a serious poet these days is by kow-towing and
getting that University job. Publish poetry to get tenure. Bruce Bennet
was one of my professors, and I enjoy his work.
Well, ok the other way is to start rich. Start your own poetry magazine.
You will end up poor but possibly recognized. Take a lot of speaking
engagements, nd that may help- but most engagements cover travel costs
and that's it.
I've never been paid more than $10 for a poem.
-georg
"Writing is like prostitution. First you do it for love, then for a few
friends, and then for money."
Eris de Suzerain
"±" <h0plib...@WHATISSPAMhotmail.com> wrote in message
news:3CA81924...@WHATISSPAMhotmail.com...
<pins>
: Listen, there's always new creative ground being broke all over, I can
: tell you that because I've witnessed it myself, the real story is how
: business has a tight stranglehold over the creative process,
: homogenizing all in its path.
:
: This is why the net is the last frontier, a place were like-minded
: people can communicate and exchange ideas, I truly feel that because of
: it we will soon be on-track, as far as pushing the creative envelope
: goes.
:
: Obviously, the US government is upset that so much unfettered
: information goes on underneath their nose, between fallout of 9/11 and
: the companies that hold copyright over creative content, I expect a big
: push for some sort of firewall of sorts, kinda like China.
I agree that this and other attempts at strangling the freeflow of ideas are
coming - What gives me hope is that enough people have tasted what it is
like to share and communicate, enough people with intelligence and skills to
help keep us able to speak in some form or another. The type of cooperation
and community that a common desire or goal fosters, combined with ability
and the tools, has a small chance of Doing Something.
There was a time in history when it was very easy to keep the majority of a
localized population in the dark, very easy to manipulate their beliefs. In
parts of the world it is still very easy, populations under the stranglehold
of religious, political or other cultural dogmas and kept scared to think.
It is the duty of those who can to keep the portals of communication open
and growing, and to challenge the preconceptions of the apathetic.
The veil of Art has always been a gorgeous way to distribute challenging
concepts, new views - sinking beneath the consciousness of the observer....
Although the ability of an Artist to "make a living" may not be enhanced in
this medium as much as it could, the ability of the Artist to affect the
consciousness of others in the 'net environment can be tremendous (in the
right hands)
(apologies for the ramble, carry on. just appreciating y'all)
Bill Cleere
"don wheeler" <cwhe...@optonline.net> wrote in message
news:3CB14128...@optonline.net...
>
> Eris de Suzerain wrote:
[important stuff snipped to get to:]
> But getting back to you now....You have to admit that using Phrasing like
> "preconceptions of the apathetic" and "consciousness of the observer"
> painted in tangent and conduction is not something one normally sees in
> Sacramento Art Galleries unless you are in a bowling alley and the
> visiting artists are from Livermore labs.
That was cheap.
True, but a cheap shot.
Sacramento, by the way, does have a wonderful art museum in
the old Crocker mansion. Seriously. Nobody ever goes to it
but it is a really nice little museum -- no masterpieces, nothing
famous, but some of those nice little out-of-the-way odds and
ends which are really fun to discover.
Eris de Suzerain
>" enough people with intelligence and skills to help keep us able to speak
in some form or another is still not preventing the slaughter that distracts
me from artistic expression. "<
Art cannot prevent, or even begin anything. Art can communicate Reality from
another angle in order to slide in the backside of the mooing unaware if its
wielded properly. Art is not a hammer.
>"Ethnic Cleansing and starving babies just don't work me up to feeling like
sharing
the experience of an undifferentiated state of unity. "<
Ethnic Cleansing and starving babies are not seen by the hypnotized masses.
When they are seen on rare occassions it is often so depersonalized that the
reality of Suffering does not even occur to them. What is the point of Art?
"It is the duty of a newspaper to comfort the inflicted (?) and inflict the
comfortable" (from Inherit the Wind) - True also of Art, I think.
>"The rage at my impotence to effect change and the horror of perceiving the
apathy of a species eats away at the goodness of my soul to such a degree
that I fear for my sanity. "<
Impotence in sweeping changes - yes, truly. No single one of us can put a
hand out and stop brutality, bullies, ignorance.
But that anger channelled, that anger disguised and slipped sideways into
the minds of the happily unaware?
Jello Biafra and Lawrence Ferlighetti fed my youth, poets - lyricists -
artists print and visual - without all of the artists I have been nurtured
by I would have never had the eyes to see beyond what Corporate Media
presents. Without knowing in advance that they are bullshit, i would never
have guessed to find out for myself. Thinking is an Art, its not taught in
schools. We have to teach it somehow - and Art can challenge, can point out,
can teach in the right hands.
>"But getting back to you now....You have to admit that using Phrasing like
"preconceptions of the apathetic" and "consciousness of the observer"
painted in tangent and conduction is not something one normally sees in
Sacramento Art Galleries unless you are in a bowling alley and the
visiting artists are from Livermore labs. "<
i don't know - i avoid Excremento like the plague. However at a small art
show in Nevada City for Alteres Del Mundo (sp?) there were just such
phrases. It was for the "Day of the Dead" holiday, altars to the dead. I had
expected simple tributes to people, or artsy fartsy crap but instead was
moved beyond tears by the level of communication and heart put into these
pieces - so many designed to speak loudly to your consciousness about the
state of the world, what we are doing to each other, to ourselves.
>" I suspect you are really about 75 or so miles west along the highway
80 corridor.
Maybe even near San Mateo with that accent. (not that it's any of my
business where you are)
Just speak for a moment into my lapel. "<
by Google or by memory?
(very afraid)
actually, i'm beyond Cool off the record.
>"Is art the function of a commerce with to much impression to make,
or the breaking of barriers just to see if one could possibly find them all
? "<
commerce tries to own art (and does sometimes) but commerce does not own
Art. Art is more than breaking barriers just for the sheer desire to be
Wacky - that is art too i guess, but little more than public wanking for all
i care for it. Art can be magnifying reality too - in order to make it
better seen.
>"In our Western culture it is not about prettyness, or even wierdness any
more.
It is about power.
The power that says Fuck Art.
The power that steps on a dixie cup , glues it to a canvas, and says fuck
you with it. "<
that power is only power if bowed too, served - and many do bow before it
lips willing and pursed waiting for the holy communion of satisfaction now,
no complications and lets keep it light OK - take them from behind while
they are bowing and wake their asses up i say - one pew at a time.
>"Spit into my micro phone for a moment, please...
But don't mind me please.
I just can't sleep, and have too much mad to be artistic. "<
i do hope you've slept - The mad is good, i'd keep it if i were you because
to give it up would be to go numb - you have great voice, i hope you use it
often and with ninja-like precision.
>"All I can do is nonsenseical to keep from angry tonight....... "<
didn't mean to stir the pot Sir, quite sorry - just losing my mind myself
and had to drop by and see what you kind gentlemen were up to.
Bill Cleere
news:ub4cogc...@corp.supernews.com...
>
> "don wheeler" <cwhe...@optonline.net> wrote in message
> news:3CB14128...@optonline.net...
>
>
> >" enough people with intelligence and skills to help keep us able to
speak
> in some form or another is still not preventing the slaughter that
distracts
> me from artistic expression. "<
>
> Art cannot prevent, or even begin anything. Art can communicate Reality
from
> another angle in order to slide in the backside of the mooing unaware if
its
> wielded properly. Art is not a hammer.
"Painting is Punching" (Robert Longo, painter)
....not that I'm disagreeing with any of your points. I just think
sometimes it can be a hammer.
By the way.....where you when I called the Roll, eh? Eh?
Eris de Suzerain
"Bill Cleere" <bcl...@philipkdick.com> wrote in message
news:oRqs8.1214$CA6.1...@newsread1.prod.itd.earthlink.net...
: "Eris de Suzerain" <er...@bitchgoddess.com> wrote in message
: news:ub4cogc...@corp.supernews.com...
: >
: > "don wheeler" <cwhe...@optonline.net> wrote in message
: > news:3CB14128...@optonline.net...
: >
: >
: > >" enough people with intelligence and skills to help keep us able to
: speak
: > in some form or another is still not preventing the slaughter that
: distracts
: > me from artistic expression. "<
: >
: > Art cannot prevent, or even begin anything. Art can communicate Reality
: from
: > another angle in order to slide in the backside of the mooing unaware if
: its
: > wielded properly. Art is not a hammer.
:
: "Painting is Punching" (Robert Longo, painter)
:
: ....not that I'm disagreeing with any of your points. I just think
: sometimes it can be a hammer.
:
: By the way.....where you when I called the Roll, eh? Eh?
losing my mind has quite taken all the energy that i had for a while -
judging by the dates on the thread i believe i was engaged in flipping out
most heavily at that time - so i was definitely not present OR accounted
for.
Bill Cleere
Have you got a chit excusing you from Roll Call on account
of this?
It'll have to be filled out proper and countersigned by the
Acting Unit Behavior Officer.
Make sure you fill in the space marked "Reason" with:
"Mind, Loss of"
Eris de Suzerain
:
: "Eris de Suzerain" <er...@bitchgoddess.com> wrote in message
sadly i wasn't given a chit, which means i have not chit to show. How do i
find the Chit man?
:
: It'll have to be filled out proper and countersigned by the
: Acting Unit Behavior Officer.
Behavior Officer??? That's not like a psychiactress is it?
:
: Make sure you fill in the space marked "Reason" with:
:
: "Mind, Loss of"
:
Does the FAQ cover this, or will there be a tribunal to review?
Bill Cleere
Tribunals fall under the jurisdiction of the Palm Springs Indian
Casino Boxing Commission. We'll have them take a look at
your case the next time they're....erm....in town.
As to the FAQ, insofar as just about every question refers to
a state of Loss of Mind, it has been deemed superfluous by
the Deity who divinely inspired the writing of said FAQ to
address the issue specifically.