From: "Nicholas Ruiz III" <editor at intertheory.org> Date: January 30, 2007 2:37:09 PM EST To: <lbo-talk at lbo-talk.org> Subject: RE: [lbo-talk] art world in crisis!
The art world perceives no 'crisis,' they are laughing in the same ATM line as ourselves; albeit, laughing much more loudly. The recent Klimt that sold for well over $100 million made several individuals quite happy indeed. Then again, in terms of any 'crisis,' much depends upon whom we identify as a part of the 'art world'.
Warhol would say the 'busi-ness' of art is the same as it ever was...and this is always but a share of the general 'busi-ness' of mankind.
Perl's 'new' concept is a repackaged lamentation of the Modern art critic; ' laissez-faire aesthetics' points only to the familiar shadow of the larger metaphysics of Capital that pervades us all; and in particular relief is Perl himself as he exchanges his writing as the 'art critic' for the New Republic for paychecks he cashes at the same banks as those 'unethical' art dealers. Perhaps Perl should consider writing his fine literature for free on a blog--this might give his story a bit more credibility.
Every moment is solicitous among the fittest who survive (or not), no? What is truly the exception Perl seeks to construct? That art should not make 'too much' money? Or that only sanctioned conceptualizations of art are 'admissible'? What is truly at stake in his claim?
NRIII