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- Last week I came across an artist YouTuber who blew me away. Her name is Lena Danya. Here’s the video:
When it comes to art, I don’t have a very sophisticated eye. I took one art appreciation course as an undergrad. But I know what I like. And like this painting, which Lena calls The Mirror. Here’s why:
- Beauty: Lena’s depiction of herself immersed in a tranquil body of water is extremely easy on the eyes.
- Awe: How the hell did she do that? It looks like a photograph for heaven’s sake.
- Inspiration: Lena has certainly mastered her craft. I could never reach that level of skill as a painter. But I might be able to reach that level of skill as a welder—if I’m willing to put in the work.
- Joy: I look at her painting and it makes me happy. I feel a little better about the world and humanity.
Now let’s juxtapose Lena’s art with the kind of art our Woke Overlords are infatuated with. Here are some examples of “art” on display at The Museum of Modern Art in New York:
Do any of these pieces meet your definition of beauty? Do any of these pieces leave you in awe? Do any of these pieces inspire you? Do any of these pieces bring you joy?
The above MOMA-approved art does nothing for me. I look at those pieces and I see nothing but half-assed attempts at art by some marginally talented, marginally sane souls. I don’t see accomplishment. I see a seventh-grade art class run amok.
A Better Comparison
Perhaps I’m being unfair? Instead of comparing Lena’s art to the pygmies in the woke art world, let’s compare Lena’s art to one of the giants.
Here’s The Mirror abutting The Scream, by Edvard Munch.
Now, if you were rummaging through an attic in an old home and you came across these two paintings, and you knew nothing about their histories or their painters, which would you find more impressive?
The Scream looks very primitive next to The Mirror. The Mirror looks like it was done by a professional—someone who spent thousands of hours honing his or her painting skills. The Scream, on the other hand, looks like it was done by a novice—someone who was momentarily inspired to paint after watching Home Alone.
My point here isn’t to dunk on The Scream. It’s a fun painting. But is it great because it’s objectively beautiful and represents a towering technical achievement? Or is it great because someone paid $120 million for it in 2012?
Art Defined by Our Woke Overlords
The cultural hegemony of the woke is nowhere more evident than in the world of art. Every major museum, gallery, and art school in the country is run by dedicated wokesters. And rather than use this immense power to promote art that reflects great skill and kindles the “better angels of man’s nature,” they use it to promote art that reflects pedestrian skill (at best) and pays obsequious homage to their narrow worldview (i.e., THE MESSAGE). Art in the hands of our Woke Overlords has become nothing but a boarish vanity project—just another way to attack their political foes and distinguish themselves from the great unwashed.
I don’t envy artists who seek renown in today’s art world. If you want an NEA grant, an opportunity to exhibit your work at MOMA, or an enthusiastic tongue bath from The New York Times art critic, you better…
- Be on Team Blue and have the preferred traits. A Team Blue artist will always get the nod over a Team Red artist, and a Team Blue artist who is neither white nor straight will always get the nod over a Team Blue artist who is white and straight. Promoting “colonizers”—even if they’re on the right team—is so yesterday.
- Produce art that reinforces THE MESSAGE. America, small government, rugged individualism, capitalism, Christians, Republicans, cops, men, heterosexuals, and white people—bad. Third-world, big government, dependency, socialism, atheists, Democrats, thugs, women, homosexuals, and black and brown people—good.
- And, finally, produce art that the average joe can produce. Our Woke Overlords love looking down upon the great unwashed. And what produces that high better than finding beauty and genius in art that the average joe finds repulsive and amateurish?
So there you have it, artists of America. If you want renown, you have to either sell your souls or be company men. The gatekeepers of art, our Woke Overlords, won’t have it any other way.
Final Thoughts
Okay, groovy freedomist, that’s all I got. What say you? I say if you want art that is truly beautiful, truly masterful, and truly edifying, you need to search out the Lena Danyas of Youtube or create it yourself. You can’t depend on our Woke Overlords. They’re more content serving up propaganda-laden slop than art that makes you smile and makes you feel a little better about your world.
A wise man once said that “everything woke turns to shit.” This, sadly, is no truer than in the world of art. Peace.
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