Disclaimer: I know I’m dredging up a long dismissed argument from 10 years ago, and discussing it in all the same tone as people did back then, despite everyone having moved on. My core thesi…
“Is X art” is usually a question that ends in elitist bullshit that reinforces “true” art as solely the realm of the finicial elite. The only “true” art disciplines also happen to be ones which require the artist to have an independent source of income or risk destitution. “A gentleman never works”. Meanwhile any art that serves a practical function, that is easily with in the reach of the lower classes, is shunned. You don’t find many nepo trust fund babies doing wedding photography or sculpting miniatures or drawing weird porn (An extreme example, but the truth is that furry commission you just finished will probably bring the owner more actionable joy than anything they will ever see in a gallery).
This goes beyond the commiditification of art, although it is exacerbated by it, this is about practicality. Demystified art, that is still tied to its use value and serves a function, is a threat to the idea that art is somehow elevated beyond the realm of mere trade and is instead a mystic priesthood caste.
Trade artists are treated as lepers both by the backstabbing art grant gladiators fighting over the coins the government tosses into their gutter and by the “serious” working world. This is why we see industries like game development chew these people up and spit them out.
drawing weird porn (An extreme example, but the truth is that furry commission you just finished will probably bring the owner more actionable joy than anything they will ever see in a gallery).
This is the main reason I would rather do this than work as a “fine artist” for rich snobs. I’d like to not worry about bills and rent, so unfortunately that comes first above everything else, obviously, but I’d rather make art that people enjoy, even if they have “unconventional” tastes, rather than art that is just used by the rich as a tax write off or to assist in huffing their own farts.
What shocked me when I started doing adult art as a side gig was just how gratious people were. People were so happy to have their needs met that they would go out of their way to tell me how much it meant to them. In all my years as an artist I dont think I’ve ever had anyone, never mind multiple people, tell me that something I made had quantifiably improved their lives. It kind of shifted my whole view on the function of art.
Yeah, it’s my favourite part of the job, I’ve never felt like I’ve actually provided something valuable for people before I started drawing adult art. Every job I had before that it always felt like the public only ever saw me as a “food dispenser” (I used to be a chef) and had 0 respect for the people who made their lunch every day. I was little more than a vending machine to them. I know that feeling isn’t surprising to literally anyone here, but it is actually incredible how much my life has improved since I started working doing something I enjoy that people appreciate. Capitalism is a fuck and I hate how wretched a commodity the working class has become.
Meanwhile any art that serves a practical function, that is easily with in the reach of the lower classes, is shunned.
Used to be pretty common that well of ladies would do crafts like wood carving, embroidery and stuff like that to keep their hands busy even when they had housekeepers to do the brunt of the domestic labor.
At least that’s what my grandma told me but she has an impressive collection of antique craft magazines to back it up.
My point is that engaging in the arguement of “What is art” regardless of your actual position lends it legitmacy. In my opinion, the only correct answer to “What is art” is to say “who cares” (if you are feeling polite). Its an inherently idealist arguement that obfuscates the material reality of artists and their works.
Now imagine playing a version of a video game without the art assets, where you just interact with the raw rules, the raw systems, the raw spaces. You only see the grayboxes of levels, rather than the final meshes. Imagine how that is artistic in its own way. Maybe it’s not as appealing overall, and maybe it suffers a bit for not giving as clear or understandable feedback (visual design and sound design impact the game design too!), but try thinking about how this too is a type of art.
Video Games are containers for art, but at the end of the day they tend to be a commodity.
I appreciate the serious response, but I was just being silly and parroting what everyone else was doing, because you clearly had already read the article.
“Is X art” is usually a question that ends in elitist bullshit that reinforces “true” art as solely the realm of the finicial elite. The only “true” art disciplines also happen to be ones which require the artist to have an independent source of income or risk destitution. “A gentleman never works”. Meanwhile any art that serves a practical function, that is easily with in the reach of the lower classes, is shunned. You don’t find many nepo trust fund babies doing wedding photography or sculpting miniatures or drawing weird porn (An extreme example, but the truth is that furry commission you just finished will probably bring the owner more actionable joy than anything they will ever see in a gallery).
This goes beyond the commiditification of art, although it is exacerbated by it, this is about practicality. Demystified art, that is still tied to its use value and serves a function, is a threat to the idea that art is somehow elevated beyond the realm of mere trade and is instead a mystic priesthood caste.
Trade artists are treated as lepers both by the backstabbing art grant gladiators fighting over the coins the government tosses into their gutter and by the “serious” working world. This is why we see industries like game development chew these people up and spit them out.
This is the main reason I would rather do this than work as a “fine artist” for rich snobs. I’d like to not worry about bills and rent, so unfortunately that comes first above everything else, obviously, but I’d rather make art that people enjoy, even if they have “unconventional” tastes, rather than art that is just used by the rich as a tax write off or to assist in huffing their own farts.
What shocked me when I started doing adult art as a side gig was just how gratious people were. People were so happy to have their needs met that they would go out of their way to tell me how much it meant to them. In all my years as an artist I dont think I’ve ever had anyone, never mind multiple people, tell me that something I made had quantifiably improved their lives. It kind of shifted my whole view on the function of art.
Yeah, it’s my favourite part of the job, I’ve never felt like I’ve actually provided something valuable for people before I started drawing adult art. Every job I had before that it always felt like the public only ever saw me as a “food dispenser” (I used to be a chef) and had 0 respect for the people who made their lunch every day. I was little more than a vending machine to them. I know that feeling isn’t surprising to literally anyone here, but it is actually incredible how much my life has improved since I started working doing something I enjoy that people appreciate. Capitalism is a fuck and I hate how wretched a commodity the working class has become.
Used to be pretty common that well of ladies would do crafts like wood carving, embroidery and stuff like that to keep their hands busy even when they had housekeepers to do the brunt of the domestic labor.
At least that’s what my grandma told me but she has an impressive collection of antique craft magazines to back it up.
did you read the article
My point is that engaging in the arguement of “What is art” regardless of your actual position lends it legitmacy. In my opinion, the only correct answer to “What is art” is to say “who cares” (if you are feeling polite). Its an inherently idealist arguement that obfuscates the material reality of artists and their works.
did you read the article
did you read the article
Yes, and your position is the position of the article.
My “position” is that the article shouldn’t exist at all.
did you read the article
Oh boy.
Video Games are containers for art, but at the end of the day they tend to be a commodity.
So are movies not art, because most are just a commodity?
Music? Books?
Like how does that not apply to every art form in late stage capitalism?
I appreciate the serious response, but I was just being silly and parroting what everyone else was doing, because you clearly had already read the article.
This is my favorite take in the thread, i declare anything else as counterrevolutionary.