MP3s make you go blind

[IBM]

Okay, not so much. But I was just reading an article which quoted the artist David Hockeny bemoaning the decline of visual awareness that is damaging art and painting in our culture, because of....wait for it....

iPods. And other portable music players.

I quote

"We are not in a very visual age," he said. "I think it's all about sound. People plug in their ears and don't look much. You notice that on the buses. People don't look out of the window, they are plugged in and listening to something."

What a pile of sensationalist crap.

Old twit.

[kidzer]

Rubbish!

I look loads when I'm on a bus, plug in my MP3 player and stare out at the countryside, makes the journey pass quite well!

[IBM]

that's what I thought....it's just a personal soundtrack. I like to read when I'm listening to music, but I actually find that the music keeps me from getting bored, and I'm quite content to just let the world go by.

Somebody made the point that the music and beat distracts people, fills up your sensory perception so that you can't pay attention to other people, citing the rise in pedestrian accidents where someones been run over while listening to music. Which is fair enough, but if hearing a car coming is the only thing stopping them from getting run over, then they're all going to die anyway with all these very quiet cars on the roads, so we're better off without them

and anyway, what percentage of people actively listen to music ALL THE TIME? You'll see one or two people with headphones in (outside of the commuting crowd) and that just aren't big enough numbers to be affecting 'art'. He went on to blame Emin and Hearst on such 'visual impairment'. I mean, WTF?

[Funkstar]

I think this has come up before. I'm pretty sure I've heard or read that quote somewhere.

And yes, i think it is baloney too

[Funkstar]

He went on to blame Emin and Hearst on such 'visual impairment'. I mean, WTF?

I would agree that Emin and Hearst have, in some respects, damaged peoples perception with art, especially 'modern art'. Popular media clings of to the sensationalist pieces that these two artists are famed for, ridiculing 'modern art' for being a load of rubbish, both literally and figuratively.

This is a bad thing. There are some truly amazing pieces of modern art out there, but all people think of is cows in formaldehyde.

[IBM]

...I have no problem with formaldehyde, nor with unmade beds, or piles of bricks. I think they're all equally valid perceptions and interpretations of life/love/fear/despair/hope/sorrow/joy etc. etc.

I don't think they deserve the press the get. Certainly if I'd never heard of the 'My Bed' installation, and had come across it in the Tate, I think I'd have been entralled at the artists ability to put something out there that so effectively conveyed such an important element in her life, and spoke so clearly about very real issues. But the press? That was just nuts.

It does indeed prejudice joe public against modern art, but if these people aren't capable of being moved (positively or negatively) and forming their own conclusions about pieces of art, then it no real loss, is it?

[Funkstar]

I agree that these installation pieces are art in their own right, but have been blown out of proportion. What on earth is The Sun doing covering art?

I guess my problem, as usual, is with the media. They practically vilify some artists, this gives the whole industry (is that the righ word, or would community be better?) a bad name. This often means that people don't try to unerstand pieces. I know a few people that wouldn't ever considder going to an art gallery because they think it's full of "junk" like this.

It's a shame, they are missing out on a lot of interesting and captivating sights.

[cavemandave]

lol so will i go blind or not from mp3

[Dareos]

If you listen to the Spice Girls, Boyzone and Westlife and a loud volume anywhere near my vicinity i may well punch your lights out, but i wouldnt actually blind you...... intentionally