BANDWAGONS

The metaphor of the band wagon is common enough in our culture even if the referent is rarely seen anymore. The band wagon used to go through town making a lot of noise and getting a lot of attention. Because most of the people on the wagon were busy playing music, new people could jump on without auditioning. Often people who could make no music at all would jump on just to be a part of the fun and be in the center of attention. Unfortunately this is a model for the behavior of some people in the arts. There is a tendency for artist to throw their work onto the latest band wagon. That way they can be perceived by others (and in their minds) as being a part of the current "movement"/"dialogue". The important discrimination to make is does the artist have something to contribute to the music or are they just adding to the progression to a cacophony of undifferentiated noise. This discrimination must be made by the audience/appreciator. How often have you heard someone say Joe/Joan artist was a part of: early performance art,

image text, the pathetic aesthetic, or myriad's of other band wagons, and therefore their work is more interesting or somehow accrues some value it would not otherwise have, i.e., it is not set forth in the work. Placing an artist work historically and conceptually is of course important as there is no meaning without context; however, just because someone hoped on some band wagon and made some noise doesn't mean they deserve perpetual credit for the contributions made by that band wagon as a hole. It is my opinion that by the time the band is on the wagon and its rolling most of the significant contributions have been made. As others hop on they may make some significant latter contributions, but more likely than not they are only adding to the din that will be heard farther and wider as it gets louder and more "contributors" can brag about being on the wagon after the fact. In evaluating the significance and/or quality of a contribution proximity to other contributors does not necessarily mean any contribution has been made.

Purse Building
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Critique
Cleft Palette

Cleft Palette
Metropolis-June'98
Appreciation-August'98
Young/Old Mushroom
Front of the Flock
Bandwagons
Conclusion

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Cleft Palette is made possible by a Creative Artist Grant funded by the City of Houston through the Cultural Arts Council of Houston/Harris County.

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COAT TAILS

Coat tails are similar to band wagons with the primary difference being that a band wagon is a group; whereas, only one person wears a coat. This term also has a political etymology. As the wearer of the coat moves into a prominent position his/her supporters ride along (metaphorically on the tails of the privileged coat) and are therefore in a privileged position. Although this may make sense in

obvious politics, and no doubt precedes the development of the coat by millennia, it is pretty ridiculous as a method for evaluating and appreciating art. A brilliant artist often has friends and associates who are at best mediocre minds. To assume that because they traffic regularly with brilliance they must necessarily partake of it is clearly not borne out in myriad's of historical examples.

CONCLUSION