The question "What is xxx?" is a necessary platform for loads of eloquent
theorists -- all of whom are deluded by the assumption that
external-to-the-mind
"categories" exist, and that every object either IS or ISN'T a member of a
given alleged category no matter what any mind thinks.   Expressed in Platonic
terms, this error assumes that each object either has or has not (or
"participates in") the required categorizing "quality" -- of "artness",
"conceptual
artness", "abstract artness", etc.

Many listers pay lip-service to this argument -- "Well, of course, everyone
knows that, that's a dead horse" etc -- and in the next breath use the word
'art' in a way that betrays that they DO believe each object either IS or
ISN'T
"art", and either HAS or HAS NOT a never-defined (chimerical) quality/essence,
"artness".

(This delusion is prototypically exhibited in a story this week about Maurice
Sendak, in which he took seriously the muddled question, "Is XXX an artist or
merely an illustrator?")


In a message dated 9/10/08 11:46:42 AM, [EMAIL PROTECTED] writes:


> What is the best conceptual art?
>
> What a stupid question!  No wonder nobody answered it.
>
> How can one concept be better than another? (unless in response to some
> specific question or problem)
>
> This is yet another way in which conceptual art is different from all the
> other arts -- and to include it within the category of art demolishes that
> category except within some kind of institutional theory.
>
>


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