Standing ovations for simple jokes - How outsized praise distorts outside perception.

We see this with regularity in the art world, some piece is held up, elevated by the oligarchs price or institutions praise, and we all scratch our heads wondering why? The artwork may not be bad, it may even be pleasant, but so can a 30cent pack of instant noodles, yet we aren't looking to pay fine dining prices for that or award them a Michelin star.

This artwork and its sale/award then inevitably makes the papers, it becomes the soft story at the end of serious nightly news, Its presented with wry smiles, at no point will anyone try to actually put forth an understanding of it, the piece may be so wholly lacking in content that there may be no real discussion to be had around it in fact. The next day it gets a good 15 minutes from all the morning show hosts, with one of them almost certainly ending the segment with a "well im not sure i get it, but thats art for you".

And so on it goes, the public laugh and deride what they are shown as the art worlds latest pinnacle, another child is told art isn't a real career, the landscape of discussion and innovation that truly makes up art is further eroded and made more challenging to traverse. "not getting it" becomes the default state, people are increasingly convinced art "isnt for them" (and convinced the people it is for smug pseudo intellectuals), the sum total of an artworks discussion focuses solely on whether it is "worth its price" as opposed to what it says or how it says it.

With this the outsiders perception on art is reduced. distorted, and in time wholly ruined.

And in all honesty if these works; the brainwashed, the bananas, and the "beautiful in my head forever" were all that we had to give. If these meek pastiches, mild jokes, and self indulgent simplicity were the sum total of arts achievements in the contemporary age, then you could understand the derision.

But we know that not to be true. We know the breadth and depth of art that exists, we know there are masterpieces sitting waiting to be recognised both online and off. It is of course this knowledge and its conflict with wealths asserted reality that leads to our disillusionment with the "art world". With this we withdraw our engagement, and so "art" as an institution is further weakened, with derision outside and disillusionment within.

And the most frustrating thing about all of this? The "artwork" whatever it may be, often isnt wholly bad. Like i said at the top, it may even be enjoyable, but by slapping a 6 figure price tag on it and adorning its slim chest with broad awards, the disparity undermines whatever merit it has or point it may have made. A whole circus big top dedicated to simple card trick distorts all sense of wonder, just as a mildly amusing visual pun is stripped of mirth by a seven figure price tag.

So temper your exclamations of outrage and joy, reserve feeling for that which is worth it, because if you cry with laughter at everything at some point you'll detract from the joke being told.

“Comedian" by Maurizio Cattelan