William has noted that: "look at art programs, easily obtained with some web surfing, will show extraordinary breadth among competing programs. Clearly, there's something suited to any student's interest among the plethora of options today (unlike, I may add, the Academic era of art training in the 18-19C)."
And that "plethora of options" is exactly how Modernism was experienced in the United States with the no-jury societies that sprang up after the Armory Shows in New York and Chicago in 1913. The key words of this ideology have been 'freedom' and 'self-expression' . (with the word 'fascist' freely applied to those who don't share them) The no-jury societies burned out during the twenties (as Robert Henri noted, self-expression is a good thing - but why does it need a society? And who really wants to go to an unjuried show ? -- even street fairs today are proud to be selective) ---- but the ideology found new life in educational institutions after the war -- as a benefit not so much to the viewer as to the self-expressing practitioners - and, of course, to the institutions and the people whom they hired. Life was pretty tough for even the leading American modernists of those decades. They might get big shows and good reviews -- but then, as now, there wasn't much of a market for their work. Arthur Dove went back to raising chickens --- 50 years later, he would have had a university career. And what's puzzling -- is that this only really happened in the visual arts. Grade school art class is all about self expression -- unlike classes in music and writing that demand certain standards of performance. In higher education, a variety of techniques and accompanying standards may be offered -- like options at a buffet table -- but ultimately, self-expression trumps them all -- and didn't William once tell us that there really wasn't any point to having studio classes in graduate programs ? (and yet soon, apparently, a PHD will be offered in studio art) Why has this ideology been so dominant only in the visual arts ? Why do teachers in music class still demand that students sing on key and follow the melody and rhythm ? Why do English teachers still demand that students observe rules of grammar, spelling, and composition? And, as Brady has asked - and no one can answer -- why do we still have important prizes in all the arts except the visual ? It's one of the great mysteries. _____________________________________________________________ Chances to WIN a Fabulous NYC Vacat Enter for your chance to WIN in the TotalBeauty.com Sweepstakes! http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2211/fc/JKFkuJO6eSc9yTNbyDDDfZroiQfClL dRnMcEMAM0b1OpWCv63kcgOA/
