Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Will 'Leetspeak' Keep Speaking?

When pondering 'leetspeak" and the computer gamers and others that use the Internet language, I am reminded of people who proudly say they are non-conformists. I am usually pretty skeptical about that declaration because our culture values individualism so highly. It is not really going too far away from the crowd to think that you are independent or a radical individual or special (elite). How many times have you heard someone say, our family is just nutty or crazy or wild or weird? People love to think they are different. (The reality is true non-conformists think in a manner and behave in such bizarre ways that most people aren't at all interested in living that way.)

Finding a like minded group with a common vocabulary is not too unusual. Over the last thirty or forty years, individuals and our nation as a whole have gradually moved toward narcissism. You might say at one end of the spectrum, our country has a personality disorder or at the very least, we are all quite spoiled. Creating a unique language that only the elite understand, would fit very nicely into the grandiose behavior listed in a DSM diagnosis. What is the DSM?, you say. Well, you have to know psychology and that special vernacular.

It just makes sense that, given our propensity to want to be different and our human nature, the very techno minded would create a special way to communicate. And, I don't doubt that some of the leetspeak language will leak into our general vocabulary in the same way that we have always begun to understand other words that had no previous meaning. Incredibly, the word 'ego' comes to mind as an example.

Leetspeak is not good or bad in itself; it is another way to express a thought or an idea. Although I probably will never know much more than LOL (and for years I thought that meant lots of love), I say to those who understand and use the insider language, "tehcool"!

Friday, September 14, 2007

A Question About Making Art

Not too long ago, I watched this crazy evangelist on one of those religious channels on TV. Now don't get me wrong, I love God and try to live in a way that is loving toward Him and other people. But, this TV preacher was way out there. He asked folks to send in $56.00 so that they could follow God's word and bring money into their lives. It was all based on a certain scripture that was located in chapter 56 of a book in the Bible. If the viewers sent in their money, they were promised they would see dramatic changes in their financial situation. Hmm. I can't know if the gullible received anything for their sacrifices but I'm sure this guy reaped a great reward for his teachings.

But in all this madness, the evangelist did offer some advice for attracting money which included finding a vocation that you can love. He asked the question; what is the one thing that you never get tired of doing? That one thing is what you are designed to do while you are on earth. So, here is my question; what is your obsession? If you could live, eat, breathe something, what would it be? It is creating, designing, making art?

Thursday, September 6, 2007

The Eye of the Beholder

Art! What a subjective topic! Defining art first makes me think of the cliche, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What do I think is beautiful? What do I like? I do know what I like; you know what you like. I think most people respond to an artwork according to their emotions. But, that is not all that is happening.

May-be the cliche could be revised to it's all in the mind of the beholder. Because, our second thought may be should I like this piece?. Does it have merit? Is it well made? Especially with abstract art, a question is raised; am I being duped? There needs to be a balance between feelings and thoughts. Art critics, artists, and other like minded individuals study and analyze art and why they respond to a particular piece of artwork. And, so they should. Without some authority with a voice, artists can become jaded and art appreciation can become a farce. I believe at least one very well known, cubist artist put a random mark on a piece of paper to see if someone would buy it just because it was his creation. And, there is really nothing new under the sun; broken plates anyone?

Is it really the pocketbook of the beholder that matters? There is some discussion and amusement (maybe disquised anger) in art circles about the mass marketing of the images of a current painter of light. Correct me if I'm wrong but I've seen coffee mugs with photos of the yellow fields and blue skies painted by a certain mad painter. Just think about the posters, calenders, postcards, and greeting cards sold in museum gift shops. Well, we gotta support the arts.

The contraversies and the variety of different thoughts, styles and schools of art is a fascinating and a broad topic. It is too broad for this dicussion. After studying art for awhile, I know a few things and I don't know alot of things. But, I'm sure I know what I like. Here is link to one artwork that I respond to on a completely emotional level. Go to
http://www.nga.gov/cgi-bin/pinfo?Object=68184+0+none

Saturday, September 1, 2007