I'm not a massive Creed fan and I can understand the Emperor's new clothes analogy. I think the same about Emin, who has no discernible talent as far as I can see. Though I do like some of Hirst's stuff and some of Gilbert and George's, which many find equally crap. I suppose it's all in the eye of the beholder.
wasn't Dresden a bit pointless ? if i remember right the only strategic points near Dresden wern't targeted and remained in action throughout the war (and after) Not a partially enticing claim to fame :/ bombing Dresden and ignoring the bases to the north lol
Work took me to where I now live ... and to be fair I wouldn't go back ... now live in an idyllic rural location having lived my formative years (to my mid twenties) in the inner city Saffron Lane area (about a mile and a half away from the old Filbert Street) - not somewhere where I'd want my own kids to grow up for purely selfish reasons (their life and job prospects). However, Leicester will always be my 'home' both for good and bad, and parts of the old city and indeed the county are fabulous places.
A moot point. The so-called Baedeker bombings by the krauts (oh I'm sorry I've done it again pls don't report me to the police) on the likes of York, Oxford and yes Coventry were similarly designed to disgust and demoralise the populace. In childish terms, they started it and the gloves were off. Dresden had a very high number of mediaeval wooden buildings which burnt readily. The inconvenience to the German war effort of having to divert resources to 'managing' the aftermath of Dresden was thought to be a legitimate and valid reason for having done it.
Modern art is as much about psychology and science as it is art - it's usually about an idea or concept. It's merit isn't really to be based on the technique of the piece but the reason behind it. Modern art shouldn't be judged in comparison with fine art. For me it's like when people compare the talent of musicians with the talent of DJs - they're two completely different artforms, DJs are closer to being composers than they are musicians. Both artforms can be appreciated if you understand the workings behind them. I see many modern art movements as being inspired by punk, in a way they're like an anti-art art movement. Purposely trying to be the opposite of what traditionalists want to see (hear in Punk's case). Heck, there are even anti-anti-art movements too, which brings everything full circle, known as The Stuckists (stuckism). I took an art course at college when I was younger - me and one of my tutors didn't really get along and she loved fine art, hated modern art. I remember we once had to watch a video of the 2001 Turner Prize awards. It was showcasing Martin Creed's work - I remember it showing his tiny cubes made of masking tape and a blob of blu-tack on a wall. When the video ended she was being really petty and going on about how pathetic it was that someone so talentless that didn't create 'art' could win such a prestigious art award. She then asked anyone who thought it was good to put their hand up.... I was the only one to do so. She asked how on earth I could think such a thing. I said; I love the idea of a bloke just walking into a room full of art snobs, at a prestigious event, sticking a blob of blu-tack on the wall and a cube of masking tape on a plinth, going "here's my entry - **** you". It's not about artistic technique, it's about the idea behind it.
I went to Fort Paull at the weekend - saw something interesting there that I didn't know about - something called 'The Hull Lift'. It was a mechanism invented in Hull during WWII for lifting large amounts of debris which had people trapped under it. It became so successful in Hull that the British government had them made and rolled out across the whole country with people coming from all over to Hull to learn how to use them.
Dazzar turntables are recognised as an instrument now, and as far as I'm concerned, they are and a proper DJ is a musician. I guess it depends what you class as a DJ, most nightclub/bar/pub disco "dj's" are just the man in charge of the stereo. It's hard not to call these guys musicians, it takes just as much skill as any other instrument to do this kind of stuff. [video=youtube;SS0rl7IGHwA]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SS0rl7IGHwA[/video]
Obviously turntablists are different and are musicians, as they're playing an 'instrument'. I'm talking in the sense of a DJ as a 'dance act' - which when making a song is more about the piecing together of the music, usually taking samples from A, B & C to create something new.
yeah Ull, the city of culture! Then all the Kosovans from West Ull will have a claim to fame! "were being illegally employed in the city of culture!"
Anyone seen any quotes from Brian Sewell regarding Hull and culture? Gilbert and George are morons in my humble opinion, and don't get me started on Damian Hurst or Tracey Emin (a lady with no taste or talent). Personally I quite like some of Lowry's works