Library Rock's Backpages

Brian Eno: Containing Spontaneity

Ken Scrudato, Filter, October 2006

NOT JUST a few otherwise sophisticated human beings would likely feel less uneasy naked and unarmed in Northern Afghanistan than present in a room when the critical daggers start flying between those who believe they are at liberty to define art in our time. But when Sigur Ros tunes are described as "aural paintings", when fashion photographers are suspiciously exalted with solo exhibitions, when artists the likes of Damien Hirst and Julian Schnabel are dubbed "rock stars", and when some over-educated twat's dirty underwear somehow becomes celebrated "installation art" (thank you, oh glorious Turner Prize judges), good luck getting it all sorted without having a cultural meltdown. 

Total word count of piece: 1251

Subscribe

Becoming a member is easy. Membership gives you access to all the thousands of articles in the library.

Click here to go to Subscribe page.

Click here for academic and other group subscriptions.