I get confused when people ask me what kind of art I do. I want to say abstract, but that no longer means what it used to. From Wikipedia:
Abstract art is now generally understood to mean art that does not depict objects in the natural world, but instead uses color and form in a non-representational or subjective way. In the very early 20th century, the term was more often used to describe art, such as Cubist and Futurist art, that depicts real forms in a simplified or rather reduced way—keeping only an allusion of the original natural subject.
... So my question is, what is that kind of art then called now? Anybody know?
---
It bugs me when important words are used totally incorrectly, like "vagina" and "literally". "Vagina" is the internal passage, but people use it as though it means vulva. "Literally" means Fully as Stated, but people use it like it means "practically". And "to abstract" means to pull an essence from, and non-representational art does not do that.
13 comments:
"Vagina" is the internal passage, but people use it as though it means vulva.
It's true, at least here in America. It's always been used in that term. (But actually it has so many different names not so clinical that I'd rather not mention.) I do remember someone telling me once that a man spends 9 months trying to get out of it and the rest of his life trying to get back in. I hope I wasn't to crast with my line eolake. Take care.
This is called "abstract semantics".
Now, make up your mind, Eolake: you can't simultaneously love abstract and hate it!
P.S.: I'd call this Matisse "a figurative silhouette". In a post-modern sort of way, n'est-ce pas? I think the symbolism in this picture is that the artist was feeling blue, even though a beautiful nude woman was posing for him at that moment. Very Sartre, non? "Hell is not being a dirty old man when you're the right age"...
"Vagina" is the internal passage, but people use it as though it means vulva.
I blame it all on the cliché we are all "taught" very early : "Boys have a penis, girls have a vagina." ):-P
I distrust made formulas even more than I distrust politicians. And that's really saying something. (Remember, kids: much of "traditional wisdom" is all BUT wise!)
I blame it all on the cliché we are all "taught" very early : "Boys have a penis, girls have a vagina."
You could be right.
It is telling that in no language I know is there a polite word for the sexual organs. There are only medical ones and vulgar ones.
"It is telling that in no language I know is there a polite word for the sexual organs".
I agree with you on this Eolake.
The German word for Gender, which is used in official documents etc where they ask which sex you are is "Geschlecht". I've never been able to find out yet if it's a coincidence that ...schlecht means bad!
It's absolutely true for our language when you say there are only medical and vulgar expressions.
The English words Gender and Sex sound much better.
Well, in fact penis and vagina are Latin words which sound quite good and even a bit sweet to my German ears. Vagina even sounds like a female name, with all the a- and i-vowels in it.
The German word for intercourse (could be worse...) is "Geschlechtsverkehr", a horrible word!!
...schlecht means bad -
verkehr means traffic,
so we have "bad traffic" -
...Oh my gawd!
It's an officially used expression.
"Geschlechtsverkehr"
LOL!
I once heard that striptease is "entkleidungsunterhaltung" or such. ("Undressing-entertainment.)
"in no language I know is there a polite word for the sexual organs. There are only medical ones and vulgar ones."
Polite? Maybe not, but there's also a wide choice of cute/kiddie words.
You're right of course: in the end, couples have to make up their own words. Which has it nice sides. Feels more intimate...
I've just been reading a parody called "Barry Trotter and the Unnecessary Sequel". Humour on the adult side, but quite funny if you're a 15+ fan.
One joke was about girl students discussing pubic hair: "So, did your boyfriend ask you to shave your Forbidden Forest?"
I liked that expression.
I think the lack of polite terms can stimulate the sense of poetry.
It does feel quaint, passé, retro, but it's also part of the charm of sex. Intimacy. Complicity. The Secret Garden.
We're right back at the charm of abstract! :-)
Words take on meanings, regardless of their roots.
"Disease" -- the opposite of ease -- is a euphemism for "illness", which itself is a euphemism for "sickness", which in turn was a euphemism for "palsy" or "pox" or "plague" or "cancer."
Then there's George Carlin's great expose -- "Shell shock" to "battle fatigue" to "veteran's syndrome" to "post traumatic stress disorder."
Final,
I'm betting Karl Rove would eagerly state that you are "understanding-challenged" and "verbally unstimulating". (PC version of "Oh, don't listen to that guy, he doesn't know a thing!")
Just like he described today that "pagesgate" affair as a "slight problem" for the current Republican campaign... Meaning that he fears many sincere religious americans will be too disgusted to bother voting again!
What's the "abstract" word that's heralded many of History's catastrophes and debacles?
Answer: "Oops!" :oP
About the "magic" of the meanings and origin of the words you can visit the "ONLINE ETTMOLOGY DICTIONARY" www.etymonline.com ;there you can find in a very simple and beautiful words,a sort of DOMAI for the words.
foe instance for "abstract"-1387,from L.abstractus"drawn away," pp.of abstrahere,from ab(s)-"away"+trahere"draw"(see tract(1)).Meaning "withdrawn or separated from material objects or practical matters" is from 1557;specifically in ref. to the arts,it dates from 1915;abstract expressionism from 1952.Meaning "summary of a document" is from 1528.The verb is first recorded 1542.Also about "literally"-taking words in natural meaning";also "vulva"-lit. "wrapper",from volvere "to turn,twist,roll.revolve",also "turn over in the mind",...also about "vagina"(sheath,scabbard")-was not used in an anatomical sense in classical times.
With great respect and admiration,yours Paul Alexandru Cazacliu artmanro@yahoo.com
Sorry,please forgive me, I wasn't careful enough at the editing;I should write-"there you can find in a very simple and beautiful way words;and also "for instance" instead of foe.
Next time I should insist for the "preview" even sometimes your "engine" refuses to do it.
With great respect and admiration,yours Paul Alexandru Cazacliu artmanro@yahoo.com
Paul,
Unexperienced editing maybe, but nice ideas. You'll get the hang of it with time. :-)
Very interesting link.
I read somewhere that the latin word "vulva" originally meant "seashell", and was applied to the female anatomy by analogy. French slang still uses the term "clam".
Just as the term "helix" for the ear anatomy comes from "snail" in latin.
Post a Comment