From: Ed Atkeson <edatkeson-AT-earthlink.net>
Date: Thu, 13 Sep 2007 16:23:16 -0400
To: puptcrit-AT-puptcrit.org
Subject: Re: [Puptcrit] Getting Gigs


> Aren't joy, perceptions, emotions, understanding, etc. the everyday
> transactions of the business of art for art's sake?
>

Well, I don't know.  If "art" is defined as a separate, specialized  
human endeavor, then "art for art's sake" sounds rather like a closed  
circuit.  For example, what would "plumbing for plumbing's sake" be  
like?   In fact, wouldn't it be funny to postulate that all possible  
approaches to plumbing fall either under the rubric of "plumbing for  
the sake of bringing home macaroni" or the rubric "plumbing for its  
own sake"?  I think in the case of plumbing one would think that this  
is a pretty inadequent and silly categorization. Yet, in the case of  
art, one hears it repeated - in one form or another - again and  
again.  If an artist is making art for the sake of life and joy, then  
why call this "for art's sake"?  Isn't hir art then then just as much  
"for the sake" of science, engineering, office work, plumbing,  
walking, working in a factory, sleeping - i.e. *all* aspects and  
activities of life?  Just as, in fact, good plumbing can be said to  
be just as much "for the sake" of music or art (not to mention  
washing) as for the sake of plumbing.
-------------------------------------
Thanks for the reply malgosia.
Plumbing for plumbing's sake would likely be art. :)

I think the idea of art that isn't bent to the service of the church,  
or commerce or fascism or education -- art standing on it's own,  
unalloyed, is a useful one. I think it's even a wonderful (if  
impossible) idea.

That's what I mean by "art for art's sake." Do I have it wrong? I  
know these phrases have accepted meanings, and I haven't taken the  
course.

best,
Ed



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