I’m trying to lay off OWS, I really am. But … according to Gothamist, which is not displaying worth a darn today, the Occupy Wall Street’s Art and Culture group has launched a new initiative called Occupy Museums. They plan demonstrations today at New York’s Museum of Modern Art, the Frick Collection, and the New Museum.
Why? According to the organizer,
We see through the pyramid schemes of the temples of cultural elitism controlled by the 1%. No longer will we, the artists of the 99%, allow ourselves to be tricked into accepting a corrupt hierarchical system based on false scarcity and propaganda concerning absurd elevation of one individual genius over another human being for the monetary gain of the elitest of elite. For the past decade and more, artists and art lovers have been the victims of the intense commercialization and co-optation or art. We recognize that art is for everyone, across all classes and cultures and communities. We believe that the Occupy Wall Street Movement will awaken a consciousness that art can bring people together rather than divide them apart as the art world does in our current time.
Let’s be clear. Recently, we have witnessed the absolute equation of art with capital. The members of museum boards mount shows by living or dead artists whom they collect like bundles of packaged debt. Shows mounted by museums are meant to inflate these markets. They are playing with the fire of the art historical cannon while seeing only dancing dollar signs. The wide acceptance of cultural authority of leading museums have made these beloved institutions into corrupt ratings agencies or investment banking houses- stamping their authority and approval on flimsy corporate art and fraudulent deals.
Oh, Jeebus, people, is this a wannabe Cultural Revolution, or what?
Anyway, in the West, the fine arts have always been underwritten by the wealthy, and artists have never liked it. If they were here, I’m sure Michelangelo and Mozart could both talk your ear off about the aristocratic ass they had to kiss in order to make a living. I’m not saying this is good, but it’s not exactly a crisis.
Update: On the other hand, this commercial is not too bad, I don’t think.
Something called loudsauce is raising money for media buys.
Occupy museums?
FTW?
OMG, what’s next, occupy opera’s, symphonies, plays, movies?
The rich have always, always, been the patrons of the arts. They do that, probably at about roughly a 1% level, to ameliorate the 99% of the evil and bad shit they do!
OWS – don’t jump the shark!
It looks like you’re starting to try.
The move on Times Square and 42nd St. last week were bad enough.
This is STUPID!!!
If you’re bored, figure out something else to do.
The agenda you linked to allots less than an hour for the “occupation” each museum, in between which they will “occupy” the uptown 4 train, the downtown M3 bus, and the downtown 6 train. Hm…
It’s hard to be sure but I think we’re being trolled.
syskill,
‘Trolled’ is too nice a term.
The official verbiage is “RATFUCKED!”
“Occupy Wall Street’s Art and Culture group”
That sounds like an organization to me, is it leaderless as well? What next, “Occupy the highways” those asphalt corridors used by the middle-class slaves of the elite?
c u n d gulag,
No, I fear you have been properly trolled.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=cCRnkamitVk
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Maha – don’t believe everything you read. This is beyond silly. I think they call it being punked. Let’s try not to react to every idiotic thing that comes along.
Remember – ” it’s the economy, stupid.”