about that banana being sold for €5.8 million...

i was thinking about the state of contemporary art and comparing it to the deeply interesting, meaningfully layered and visually attractive artworks of all centuries up until the mid 20th century, and how most everyone can agree that the quality of art since the later 20th century has generally gone downhill. there are still great artworks being made this day but the AVERAGE "masterpiece", public statue or expensive artwork is pretty fucking crappy nowadays. crap in terms of aesthetics, deeper meanings, symbolism and technical skill.

i think this is because the art world is completely free for all and close to rule-less now. it's hard to be against the democratization and delimitation of creative expression. yet i feel like historical limitations such as censorship, prudeness, working on behalf of a client like the church or a state, closed social circles... were in their own way beneficial to the quality of art. i would say that limitation breeds creativity, while freedom creates laziness.

just for clarity though: this ducttaped banana is not art. no, i'm not saying that as a snobbish prude who only thinks realistic baroque paintings and sculptures are true art. i mean that this is literally a dick money measuring contest for the ultra rich. this banana was bought by a chinese crypto billionaire and then awkwardly eaten in front of an audience. the only reason this 'art' was made AND bought, was to showcase to the entire world: look what we can do with all of our wealth while you watch from a cracked screen on an empty stomach and shake your head in confusion.

ignore those bored and egocentric capitalists, man.