Innovation in Art

Some of the most respected artists in history were innovators. By developing new techniques and new styles, they were able to enhance art by making expression easier, clearer, and more recognizable. They improved the way art was created, and made lasting names for themselves.

The new "artists" of the last century have been unable to distinguish themselves through talent, since they lacked it. Instead, they attempted to gain respect through innovation. By being the first "artist" to try something, they gained fame in a false comparison to the historical artists. By claiming to be pushing "art" to a new and bolder future, they pretended to progress.

Soon everyone tried to be the newest innovator. The standard of good in art changed from an objective fulfillment of man's needs, to whatever was new and different. This hurried the destruction of art by claiming more and more things as art. Eventually, art included everything. Nothing was off limits, in an attempt to always find something new.

Naturally, the more disgusting and vile ideas became the latest innovation. Making paintings out of animals feces is one example. Even this became "routine" after a short while, and each artist pushed the levels of decency to find something truly twisted in the hopes of being the first to try such an innovation.

Today, good "art" is that which is the most innovative. The innovation necessarily take "art" farther and farther from its original purpose, since real art is the least "innovative". The new "artists" will continue to pursue the most bizarre lines of creation in order to distinguish themselves. Since art fulfills a need of man, people are left without knowledge of it, and must pay accordingly.


Copyright © 2001 by Jeff Landauer and Joseph Rowlands