OK, time to piss off some mathematicians. What’s Genius Marketing + Innovative Scope * obsession with death / $198M = ?
Give up? Oh, those buttons aren’t on your calculator. The answer of course is Damien Hirst. I find it incredibly interesting that the arts are the first thing on the chopping block at schools with lagging budgets. I am aware of the importance of math.. to figure out change of a dollar and figure out how many big macs you can eat. However, advanced math is utterly useless when it comes to real life application. Unless of course you are an engineer, but as a trained architect I choose to ignore engineers.
Math is a good thing, don’t get me wrong. But we are breeding a new generation of students that have no appreciation for fine art. With tech-culture being what it is, we are exposed to more artwork than ever before. However, the appreciation for that visual creation is lost. Today’s generation is growing up on shock value… hence Damien Hirst. With so much desensitizing and overexposure via the Internet, art like Pollocks is no longer exciting to look at. Everyone relies on the first page of Google Images for their visual connections (which are ranked by traffic, hence all the porn) . Recognizing beauty is an important thing in this world. Today, the majority of us get up early to wait in traffic, just so we can do something we hate or have lost interest in. Art is becoming hidden in a world focused on money and numbers. Nothing was worse than walking into H&R block last tax season and seeing cubicles of people who looked half dead. The art on the wall was about 50% frame and you had to get within inches to see that it was a dull mountain with trees.. gimme a break!
I pose a simple question to all my students the first day they sit down in my class.. ‘Who is you favorite visual artist?’. The general response? Looks of emptiness and a sense of confusion as if it is the first time they have ever been asked that question. Some may drudge up a response like “Da Vinci” or “Van Gogh”… without knowing any of their work and relying solely on societal pop-culture keywords.
We are a tech-based civilization and we are never going back. Why then after learning the basics of math are students forced to learn more advanced computations? So students can become accountants or possibly more math teachers? Can they not afford a calculator for the one time in their life they need to know an advanced mathematical answer? I think more art classes are in dire need. Once you begin to recognize beauty in art, your entire world is open to expression and beautiful things. People become happier and more fulfilled. Perhaps I’m being idealistic and the system is right. Perhaps students today can make their own creative choices. Perhaps the failing American education system will turn around magically. Or perhaps the answer is art and music.
For all of you that disagree, I will be happy to discuss this with you. Oh and afterwards you can help me with my taxes. Wait.. nevermind… there’s H&R Block.
Your observations are very accurate. People need to be well-rounded to appreciate all of the various aspects of life. Students today tend to pigeon hole themselves by focusing only on their career objective. It is the old argument about liberal arts graduates. Some people say they don’t have specific skills when they graduate while on the other hand those with more specific degrees tend to be too focused on specific skills. They might be great engineers but cannot appreciate such some of the finer aspects of life such as art. Liberal arts graduates tend to have a more comprehensive view of life and its challenges. I have to admit that I have never been a fan of abstract art but I am at least willing to look at it. Recently, my wife and I went to a sculpture exhibit of the Henry Moore at the NY Botanical Garden. The sculptures are large cast metal objects that are abstract in nature. They were interesting. By the way, have you ever been to the art exhibit on the grounds of the Pepsi Corp near I-287 near the NY/CT border? It is open to the public and rather interesting. When it comes to tax preparation, you should skip H & R Block and do your own using Quicken or a similar program. It is less expensive and probably more accurate. I will check back later.
By: Frank on October 30, 2008
at 12:13 am
I just found out that they cut the music program at my old high school… and I’ve have a gander that the art program is long gone…
It’s so sad – it was my favorite part of high school.
By: Lpeg on November 6, 2008
at 1:33 pm
You are absolutely right. This is why we homeschool our three boys. Hours and hours of art and music every day. Multiple instruments, multiple opportunities to create. Some math, but not much.
It is like peeling an onion as I watch our kids explode with creativity and growth.
By: Jim on April 9, 2009
at 6:53 am
ok lets say that everyone were like you idiots who think that mathematics is hard arithmetic with large numbers. No math= no engineering, no science = you wouldnt live in your pretty house you would ride horses no internet to post your stupid views no expensive computers no technology of any kind. And youre lucky that Im not one of the people that believe that math is IN nature and if there were no math the physical laws would break down. And stop condeming mathematics because it has no real life applications. Who cares??? it extremely interesting and art has no applications either
By: mic on December 31, 2010
at 7:53 pm
i disagree on your views, art is important but drawing on a peice of paper or spending time designing different things isnt going to help our current economy, we need people to get out and start working jobs they might not like, but are necesary, and more ofgten than not those jobs are going to require a strong background in science and in math.
By: brad on July 21, 2009
at 5:42 pm
Yeah it’s people like Brad who are so boring and have no talent and think they have to be like everyone else that really sets me off. I guarantee I work harder than you. I also use math and science and everything else in the world to make art. Open your mind some there Brad buddy. Don’t put down what I do unless you can do something at least equal. Go work your fucking boring 9 to 5. I’m having crazy fun and making people all over the world feel better. I really never want to meet you or anyone like you. You sir, are an ass.
By: ARTIST on July 25, 2009
at 3:10 am
There is this gigantic misconception that mathematics and science cannot be creative and that the arts cannot be logical. Well the most innovative minds know that without both analytical and intuitive thinking COMBINED arts, math, and science etc.. etc… would not exist. Both ARTIST and Brad are not seeing the beauty in the other. But this passage is right, the fact that the schools are cutting art programs is OUTRAGEOUS because then we are developing computer like children that can function and understand basic skills but then they do not understand how to apply those skills. For instance (and you might have heard this story)
There is a semi passing in a small town and he does not see the sign that says LOW BRIDGE and he passes under a bridge and gets wedged. Well for hours all of these firemen and great analytical thinkers are measuring and trying to get this semi out so the traffic can move along. So meanwhile there is this little boy about 9 years old riding on a bicycle and he sees the problem and he says “Why don’t you let the tires out”.
I think this story has a lot of meaning to it. Because it shows the “out of the box” thinking children have and it shows how were creating one way minded people. If you are interested in some of the stuff that i am in saying then you should listen to this talk on TED
http://www.ted.com/talks/lang/eng/ken_robinson_says_schools_kill_creativity.html
By: Ashley on November 29, 2009
at 12:52 am
ARTIST is right on the money Brad. Just because you suck at art don’t put the whole thing down. Do you want your kids to grow up making the same mistakes you have? Do you want them to be assembly line robots with no creativity in there lives. Wake up dude, or be as stupid and dull as most people who think like you do. I never want to meet you either.
By: Smolenski on July 26, 2009
at 1:27 am
Well, here’s a way to look at it…
There are plenty of fine products on the market but people still aren’t buying them. People are out of work because nobody is buying the product. Now who does a company hire to make more people buy their product? An artist. I think it is important to remember that even at your boring 9-5, behind the logo of the company is the artist that created it. Without said logo and the recognition that comes with it, nobody would buy the product.
I think what Ted is getting at (and what keeps being unintentionally re-illustrated for him) is that the lack of appreciation is the problem and it isn’t just in the museum. The lack of art appreciation seems like it may just mean that people don’t care about What is hanging hanging in museums. I think that is very important to note but I think that what is much more important and immediate is the fact that with art being pushed aside; people are failing to realize how much art is actually integrated into almost every aspect of their daily lives.
By: Dave Estes on July 27, 2009
at 3:06 pm
Stop arguing whether art or science/math is better. THEY’RE ALL IMPORTANT. Just saying that we shouldn’t focus on just one side of the brain.
By: L on July 29, 2011
at 8:08 am
You can make carriers out of both these subjects, but in a particular school out of thirty children 2 liked math more than science
By: Samuel on September 28, 2011
at 4:28 am
There is no such thing as “more important”. All talents are necessary to move our society forward. I’m incredibly good at math and science, but if that is all I got to do for the rest of my life, I’d shoot myself in the head. I also adore Chopin, but if all I had to do was listen to music and admire art, again, I’d die of boredom. It would be good if the educational system allowed everyone to become competent and excell in the area they wanted the most. It would also be good if the public and random bloggers would stop acting like it’s a competition. It’s not a competition. We are all aiming for the same goal: happy, fulfilling, engaging lives.
By: Anna on December 4, 2011
at 8:43 pm
geez i do art a level. i like & i dont like it. well i definately hate the fact the ted wishes us to know the artists from the past. i hate that sort of shit. you dont get no freedom in your artwork. also yes art is overlooked. because im an art student i have the habit of creating pieces its almost like raising a child. when it is taken away for atleast a month for marking. you miss it so much. but i cant live with art. maybe people shud try drawing at their spare time but not engage a whole life onto something. also an being an artist you dont always live a happy life. its wrecked & at times spoiling a piece of work is jsut quite repetitive & tiresome. equals depressing. i want ot become an architect. first i got told it is time consuming. i can live with it.
other people will kill themselve & more into straight forward puzzles & data.
its just the way it is.
the world is not to far of track.
By: siddequr on February 19, 2012
at 10:44 pm