In Los Angeles, a mixture of identity politics, influencer culture, and activism combine in a whirlwind of delusion and shockingly bad art. The art world is dominated by fresh graduates of art school that are already attaching themselves to the newest social justice craze in hopes of local fame. They know they are shallow, they know L.A. culture is shallow — so they must stretch themselves beyond belief to prove that they are
Art born out of victimhood makes criticism of it virtually impossible
I went to a prestigious art school. I was the minority. A 40 something white straight male. I would see “eat the rich” posted around the school. Then go to a student show and see prints, paintings and photographs for sale for $500 and up. Real dog shit too.
I was using my gibill to go to school there. I had to have a supplemental deans scholarship to cover the cost of the tuition.
I was elected student body vp. I met with board of directors of the school. Rich old white people. Their contributions paid for a lot of the scholarships of the students.
I would watch them get stuck on race during BFA thesis presentations. One young lady suggested she was like Martin Luther King with her photography.
Not to say there wasn’t some really talented and wild people there because there was. But sadly now as some of them are about to graduate they have fell victim to this weird victimhood culture that is oddly cultivated in art school. I feel as if it stunted their growth and put limits on their creativity.
But in defense of the school I was in awe of the faculty. Amazing artists and humans. I came from 21 years of military culture and “no” wasn’t a word that heard there. If there was an idea that a student had it was nurtured and researched and a way was found. I’ve only worked in one other place where the teachers had so much enthusiasm and passion. I was an old man freshmen but I learned a lot from some of my peers and all of the faculty. It was the best academic experience I ever had.
But sadly i do see this victim identity stunt the grow of some mind blowing artists.
Well… the short of it is I left after that foundation year. I left the states February of 2022 and haven’t been back. Our paths to expatriatehood are very similar.
I haven’t picked up the camera since but I’ve started writing creative nonfiction.
The long of it could be an interesting conversation.
Wow, damn. How long in Odesa? Since 2021? Odesa looks beautiful- are you/have learning the language? Where is your nonfiction stuff? Putting any of it out there anywhere?
I went back to the states in 2021 to square away some life things and flew into Poland a few days after the invasion. Met up with my lady in Alacante, Spain and drove to Romania where we lived for a year before moving back to Odesa last year.
Odesa is beautiful and now that the weather is getting better she is starting to blossom even in the face of daily ballistic attacks. The city like the people are beautiful and resilient.
I read that W.E.B. DuBois loved Shakespeare and could enjoy it as a man reading literature written by a man. I feel the same way about Plato's Republic. I know that for the ancient Greeks, I barely existed as a sentient being because I was a woman. It doesn't bother me. I don't confuse the map (the writer) for the territory (the truth.) Truth can be built upon successfully whereas lies soon crumble bringing with them much damage. And anyone touring LA can see the absolute damage the lies have created.
Yes, this is true. The injection of politics into art is heartbreaking- Lots of fakery, irony and hip crap. Its the craft that should count- as you say with your Shakespeare and Plato references.
Very kind of you. I am grateful for your readership- and sure the other writers on this platform are as well. Unherd is fantastic, that is a great compliment.
Magnificent commentary on the current trend in art of insincerity and self promotion via victimhood praising.
Thank you for reading, Lucy, truly!
Reading this transported me to the shopping district on Melrose.
I am sorry.....
lol...well played.
Art born out of victimhood makes criticism of it virtually impossible
I went to a prestigious art school. I was the minority. A 40 something white straight male. I would see “eat the rich” posted around the school. Then go to a student show and see prints, paintings and photographs for sale for $500 and up. Real dog shit too.
I was using my gibill to go to school there. I had to have a supplemental deans scholarship to cover the cost of the tuition.
I was elected student body vp. I met with board of directors of the school. Rich old white people. Their contributions paid for a lot of the scholarships of the students.
I would watch them get stuck on race during BFA thesis presentations. One young lady suggested she was like Martin Luther King with her photography.
Not to say there wasn’t some really talented and wild people there because there was. But sadly now as some of them are about to graduate they have fell victim to this weird victimhood culture that is oddly cultivated in art school. I feel as if it stunted their growth and put limits on their creativity.
But in defense of the school I was in awe of the faculty. Amazing artists and humans. I came from 21 years of military culture and “no” wasn’t a word that heard there. If there was an idea that a student had it was nurtured and researched and a way was found. I’ve only worked in one other place where the teachers had so much enthusiasm and passion. I was an old man freshmen but I learned a lot from some of my peers and all of the faculty. It was the best academic experience I ever had.
But sadly i do see this victim identity stunt the grow of some mind blowing artists.
Yes, this all sounds about right. You still making work? Where did all this lead you to?
Well… the short of it is I left after that foundation year. I left the states February of 2022 and haven’t been back. Our paths to expatriatehood are very similar.
I haven’t picked up the camera since but I’ve started writing creative nonfiction.
The long of it could be an interesting conversation.
Interesting, where do you live now?
Now I’m living in Odesa Ukraine with a woman I met online in 2014, met in person in 2021 and married last year.
Wow, damn. How long in Odesa? Since 2021? Odesa looks beautiful- are you/have learning the language? Where is your nonfiction stuff? Putting any of it out there anywhere?
Not sure where I want to take the writings. I’m in love with Bohemian Splender. Would love to pick your brain about moving through the writing space.
I went back to the states in 2021 to square away some life things and flew into Poland a few days after the invasion. Met up with my lady in Alacante, Spain and drove to Romania where we lived for a year before moving back to Odesa last year.
I have a few stories on Medium.
https://medium.com/real-stories/bunker-babies-f1793cd25488
Odesa is beautiful and now that the weather is getting better she is starting to blossom even in the face of daily ballistic attacks. The city like the people are beautiful and resilient.
I read that W.E.B. DuBois loved Shakespeare and could enjoy it as a man reading literature written by a man. I feel the same way about Plato's Republic. I know that for the ancient Greeks, I barely existed as a sentient being because I was a woman. It doesn't bother me. I don't confuse the map (the writer) for the territory (the truth.) Truth can be built upon successfully whereas lies soon crumble bringing with them much damage. And anyone touring LA can see the absolute damage the lies have created.
As I, a Jew from Eastern Europe, can enjoy Wagner’s opera
Yes, this is true. The injection of politics into art is heartbreaking- Lots of fakery, irony and hip crap. Its the craft that should count- as you say with your Shakespeare and Plato references.
Thanks for reading K.E.
Great essay. The writers are wonderful are this platform. Sort of the American equivalent of Unherd.
Very kind of you. I am grateful for your readership- and sure the other writers on this platform are as well. Unherd is fantastic, that is a great compliment.