Miller wrote:
I think this attitude -- or at least the institutionalization of it
-- has
been a cultural disaster -- and I'm not shy about saying that.
(even if, as William has just reminded us, - "What a joke! Miller
being the
looker downer upon instead of the looked downed upon.")
Aside from subjecting people to various tests, Miller hasn't ever
explained exactly how a truly sensitive person, standing before the
great works and exposing himself to the highest art, learns. How does
this person discern mere virtuosity (which beguiled the mentor-less
William) from genius or true artistic accomplishment? Besides, of
course, being suffused in the Bava Ray.
Miller has never explained how anyone gets from ignorant to
knowledgeable without going through a process that is, inevitably,
either (a) a one-on-one relationship with a guide or instructor (a
very labor-intensive arrangement, and the mentee* is stuck with a
dilemma if the mentor proves to be incompetent or ineffective); or
(b), institutional.
Basically, Miller is not against the *institutions of art*, per se,
but merely against the prevailing theories now being taught in most of
the art departments. Miller sounds like "Joe the Plumber" of art
education. Many years ago, a friend gave me a copy of a book called
"Don't Get Taught Art This Way," by Theodore Shaw, 1967. I cannot find
my copy on the bookshelf, so I can't quote. But, in essence, it makes
the same arguments that Miller does: all this art hype about
abstraction, minimalism, pop art, and other new stuff (in the 60s) is
blather and bullshit. Passion and commitment is paramount. Miller
could have written it.
BTW - regarding sarcasm -- Michael, you are apparently much better
at it than
I (at least according to the professional editor on this list) so
I'm not
suggesting that you stop. It's what you do best!
Nah, I do puns much better than I do sarcasm. And logic. Painting,
too, and drawing. And, of course, English, all the words and the
sentences -- and the punctuating of it. What do you do, not even best,
but merely, well, just good?
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Michael Brady
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
