In the article from Interview Magazine, Glenn Ligon talks about how his mother had an attitude toward money that it “could be spent for anything that bettered [her children].” I think it’s interesting that Ligon’s mother wanted to spend the family’s money on “bettering” her children with art but not on other things like expensive shoes. It would be nice if everyone had the idea that raising a well-rounded child would be better for and more helpful to society instead of people walking around wearing expensive clothes. Although I think fashion can be a form of expression through art, I know that not everyone can be a designer and not everyone can afford such expensive clothes, and raising a child who has a knowledge of art and literature and history and science and so on would be better for society, in my opinion.
The photo I chose is entitled “Untitled.” The photo is of lights in the form of the sentence “If I can’t have love, I’ll take sunshine” from Gertrude Stein’s novella, Melanctha. I chose this photo because it follows what we have talked about in class, that contemporary artists appropriate other people’s art and work so that it fits the artist’s agenda. I also chose this photo because I really like the quote that Ligon took from Stein because not everyone is in a place in his or her life where feeling love from either himself or herself or even other people, but the sun is always there. And the way Ligon wrote the quote out in lights sends even more of a positive message, to me at least. I found the quote, and subsequently the photo, very inspirational.
I would have to agree with you on your ideals. If people would have values such as Ligon's mother, then perhaps society would benefit with all of the cultured people. It would be better than raising spoiled children that don't appreciate the things they have, that's for sure.
ReplyDeleteI agree with what you said about his mother's ideals being really positive, but it also reminded me of the Barbara Kruger piece that said, "When I hear the word culture, I take out my checkbook." It makes me wonder if art should be something that families really need to pay for. Is art for everyone, or is it reserved for those with wealth?
ReplyDeleteI find it extremely interesting that the title of the piece you chose is "untitled." I know that we discussed this in class but I still find it extremely intriguing that an artist would name his/her own work as "untitled." I believe they would do such a think to try and get the person who is looking at the work to come up with their own perception of the piece - which is ultimately what art is, right?
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