Art. But Only If You Say So First

All right. I realize the question “What is art?” is extremely complex on its own and talk shows, especially comedic ones, do not lend themselves to nuanced explanations. I would think a former director of the Whitney Museum could do better than definite it solely as the artist’s intention. Yet that is exactly what David Ross, said former director of the Whitney did on the Colbert show when discussing the copyright issues surrounding Shepard Fairey’s alteration of Manny Garcia’s photo of Barack Obama.

First he says Garcia’s photo is not art because Garcia considers himself to be a journalist rather than an artist. Then goes on to say “Works of arts are essentially the function of intention.” When Colbert asks if Ross, as a professional in the visual arts field, couldn’t declare Garcia’s photo art, Ross disavows any ability to do so without Garcia taking his hint to do so. Which I guess means that all that pre-Columbian pottery on display in museums isn’t art because the potters intended them to be functional and not art.

Is this some new trend in arts ethics where you respect the creator of a work’s perception about what it is they have created? If so, it doesn’t seem like everyone has gotten the message. Ray Bradbury, for example, keeps insisting Fahrenheit 451 isn’t about censorship but people continue to insist–to his face–that it is. Of course, he intended to create a work of literature. Perhaps once you label something as art, people figure you cede ownership of the interpretation.

Ross doesn’t qualify his definition as only being in this case. He openly says that even if it is completely awful, something is arts by simple virtue of a creator’s statement. Actually, like all discussions of art, I guess it isn’t quite that simple. What if two people with song writing credit make contradictory statements about what they wrote? What happens when one person calls it art and the other considers it to be an ad jingle? Plenty of classical music appears in both television commercials and in concert halls. (I can’t find it at the moment, but I have a vague recollection of a symphony orchestra programming television jingles as a concert.)

But really, none of that explains why Ross was so cagey about his answers. If anyone has some insight, I would be interested in hearing it. In the meantime, here is the clip.

The Colbert Report Mon – Thurs 11:30pm / 10:30c
Obama Poster Debate – David Ross and Ed Colbert
www.colbertnation.com
Colbert Report Full Episodes Political Humor & Satire Blog Video Archive

About Joe Patti

I have been writing Butts in the Seats (BitS) on topics of arts and cultural administration since 2004 (yikes!). Given the ever evolving concerns facing the sector, I have yet to exhaust the available subject matter. In addition to BitS, I am a founding contributor to the ArtsHacker (artshacker.com) website where I focus on topics related to boards, law, governance, policy and practice.

I am also an evangelist for the effort to Build Public Will For Arts and Culture being helmed by Arts Midwest and the Metropolitan Group. (http://www.creatingconnection.org/about/)

My most recent role was as Executive Director of the Grand Opera House in Macon, GA.

Among the things I am most proud are having produced an opera in the Hawaiian language and a dance drama about Hawaii's snow goddess Poli'ahu while working as a Theater Manager in Hawaii. Though there are many more highlights than there is space here to list.

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