This is great. I'd never paid much attention to the Met Gala Ball until all the news a few years back about AOC showing up in a hilarious show of hypocrisy. Then, this year, I've seen photos of some artists I like and some I love. Maybe they've been to the Gala before but this is the first time I've seen evidence. And it makes me sad to see them there. They're mainstream artists, decidedly mainstream, or they wouldn't be at the Gala, but there is such a thing as being too mainstream for their own artistic good, right?
Thanks for reading... I've had this piece on the back burner for a while, then when I saw some of the Met Gala photos I knew I had to go for it, haha. That is definitely the question: Can art and artist stay authentic in the mainstream?
Growing up in a tiny town in the State of Washington, I assumed NYC was 100% like the movie, "The Warriors." When I first traveled to NYC in the early 90s, I discovered that certain areas were still about 10% "The Warriors." And now NYC, when I visit seems to be 0% "The Warriors." So maybe great punk art needs a city that's somewhere in between 10% and 100% "The Warriors."
Interesting takes as always. I've no doubt the punks were and are sincere in their intentions, but if there's one thing Byrne, Morello, and Joey Ramone's experiences confirm, it's the old truism that aging out of idealism and embracing conventional visions of success is an inexorable process. The bills keep stacking up, long after the fires of counter-revolution go cold. That, and that Live Nation still owns our performative asses six ways to Sunday.
This is great. I'd never paid much attention to the Met Gala Ball until all the news a few years back about AOC showing up in a hilarious show of hypocrisy. Then, this year, I've seen photos of some artists I like and some I love. Maybe they've been to the Gala before but this is the first time I've seen evidence. And it makes me sad to see them there. They're mainstream artists, decidedly mainstream, or they wouldn't be at the Gala, but there is such a thing as being too mainstream for their own artistic good, right?
Thanks for reading... I've had this piece on the back burner for a while, then when I saw some of the Met Gala photos I knew I had to go for it, haha. That is definitely the question: Can art and artist stay authentic in the mainstream?
Growing up in a tiny town in the State of Washington, I assumed NYC was 100% like the movie, "The Warriors." When I first traveled to NYC in the early 90s, I discovered that certain areas were still about 10% "The Warriors." And now NYC, when I visit seems to be 0% "The Warriors." So maybe great punk art needs a city that's somewhere in between 10% and 100% "The Warriors."
Interesting takes as always. I've no doubt the punks were and are sincere in their intentions, but if there's one thing Byrne, Morello, and Joey Ramone's experiences confirm, it's the old truism that aging out of idealism and embracing conventional visions of success is an inexorable process. The bills keep stacking up, long after the fires of counter-revolution go cold. That, and that Live Nation still owns our performative asses six ways to Sunday.