Bob and Roberta Smith, Tate Modern, 2008. more
How can we quantify cultural production? What data is needed to properly compare two institutions' services in the community as well as to the world? I certainly do not believe that attendance and income are the best measures, but they must say something. Justin Bieber's youtube video would be the best (youtube most played), or Avatar would be considered the best movie (highest grossing movies), or Walmart could be quantified as the best store (list of companies by revenue). However, we cannot easily write off this data. Why are these items doing so well? They are operating on a global sphere, and must be appealing to a very accessible, easy, entertaining, and common denominator. They also were very well advertised, well planned, business ventures. But are they the best?
Maybe culture production needs some new metrics behind culture. Who uses/buys the item is one thing, but also what does that institution/artist/event incite outside of itself? What creativity and positive influences ripple out? Do the British feel happier and more fulfilled because of the experiences with the National Health Service as well as the Tate? How is the fulfillment different?
Maybe culture production needs some new metrics behind culture. Who uses/buys the item is one thing, but also what does that institution/artist/event incite outside of itself? What creativity and positive influences ripple out? Do the British feel happier and more fulfilled because of the experiences with the National Health Service as well as the Tate? How is the fulfillment different?
Cedar Tavern, NYC
These questions make me think of Cedar Tavern, which was hang out for many poets and artists, famously the Abstract Expressionists. I am a firm believer in art groups and learning about the New York School really helped confirm that hunch in undergrad. These were a group of artist friends, that passionately talked and debated the merits of different techniques and practices, and together became wildly successful. So, how to we understand Cedar Tavern's role in their influence? Many of their ideas behind Abstract Expressionism were created by informal conversation at this pub.
It seems clear to me that schools are of fundamental importance to culture production. If you aren't engaged at a young age by creativity, expression, and intellectual thought, a visit to the MoMA, most likely will not change that.
It seems clear to me that schools are of fundamental importance to culture production. If you aren't engaged at a young age by creativity, expression, and intellectual thought, a visit to the MoMA, most likely will not change that.
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