Hello Sinister, I was just wondering if anyone had watched the Turner Prize last week. For those who didn’t, it was surprisingly interesting – certainly for an art program. Unsurprisingly the winner was also the most controversial nominee (coincidence?) A light comes on, 5 seconds pass, the light goes off, 5 seconds pass, the light comes on, etc. Personally I thought the judges made the wrong decision. There was this rather groovy photographer, who made documentaries on his family, and besides minimalists get on my nerves. But don’t worry this post isn’t going to contest what should and shouldn’t be considered art, because despite how ridiculous this may sound switching a light on and off is art. Art is appreciation, enjoyment, if you find something moving its art, and just like music art is all opinions (which means I can say that I’m quite fond of The Stokes:) But that’s only my opinion on the subject. So I don’t get offended when people say modern/contemporary art is crap, (although I do raise an eyebrow when someone claims they could do it) I can easily see where they are coming from when a man rolls a piece of paper into a ball calls it art, and is awarded £20,000. However a few days ago my opinion very nearly changed. This is my first post to sinister (despite being on the list for nearly a year) so I thought a bit of background would come in useful (that’s assuming you’ve read this far). I’m nothing too original – a lonely indiekid, studying for his A levels. One of the subjects I (misguidedly) chose to do is maths. Over the past few months I’ve started to notice that my maths teacher is using the lessons as a forum to get things off his crest - to vent all of his frustration. If something is getting on his nerves, by the end of the week we’ll know about it. Its not just what the lower sixth have done this week (he’s the head of the sixth form, sorry its not just you who thinks I’ve gone off the point a bit), its not simply confined to the school, but anything, and sadly everything. I’ve often disagreed with what he says, but its never really bothered me – I find it quite easy to bury my head in my exercise book, and pretty soon his arrogant, close-minded, xenophobic views will go straight over my head. However I found this horrifically hard to do so last Monday. He started off by asking if there were any art students/appreciators in the class, I said “yes sir”, but to be honest I think my voice was probably drowned out by the other student groaning at the thought of yet another one of his sermons. Anyhow I presumed he already knew I did art, as I have spoken to him at least three times about my foundation year in art (how naïve). He then moved on to talk about contemporary art (I could tell what was coming), I tried to shout some comments out, to try and get some sort of a two way conversation going (as opposed to a rant), I shouted things like “Oh! I think you mean DamianHIRST. Yeah, he’sss he’s pretty controversial butIactually find him quitte inspir...” I admit I tailed off into a slight mumble; well ok it was all a bit of a murmur. I wasn’t too surprised when he mentioned the Turner prize (as it was on the night before). I knew someone like him wouldn’t like it, and I was right, but I don’t that excuses his comments. Someone asked him who judged the prize - as to say who would consider this to be art, and my teachers reply? “A bunch of DickHeads”!!!! He then went on to imply that anyone involved, or who even appreciated contemporary art to be so too! I had no idea what to say, which is probably why I said nothing. Its not the fact that he doesn't appreciate art that pisses me off. I admit its not everyone’s cup of tea, but he knows I do art, and to be so blinkered to think that its ALL "a load of bollocks"! The only conclusion I’ve been able to draw is that he either thinks I’m a dickhead - and has no idea that I exist, or that I’m a dickhead who he has no respect/consideration for whatsoever. I always knew he thought I shouldn’t of taken maths, but I never knew why. Anyway back to Marx and Engels…. Cheerio, Andy "keep it all in, and dream it all out" ______________________________________________________________ For up-to-the-minute music news, reviews and specials visit http://www.nme.com Get free e-mail (anyname@nme.com) now at http://www.nmemail.com The sender of this e-mail is NOT an employee or associate of NME, nme.com or any other IPC magazine. +-------------------------------------------------------------------------+ +---+ Brought to you by the Sinister mailing list +---+ To send to the list mail sinister@missprint.org. 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