Stuckism and Paul Harvey

Once upon a time I was an art student. I don't really want to get into it--too embarrassing--but it seemed everyone knew things I didn't. Like art. I could draw and paint, which you might think is the key thing. Wrong. I couldn't figure out why I had to read Social and Philosophical Movements in the Arts. Why learn about Marxism? Why read Roland Barthes' Mythologies?

Years later--when I was older, wiser, and back in school--I read this stuff, understood it, and then applied it successfully to my study of literature. But at 17, I was fucking hopeless. And any sort of theory makes me sweat a little even now.

Well, last night I bit the bullet. I flexed those old art school muscles, determined to find out what the hell Stuckism is. It's not some recognizable style. Basically it's a rather new art group--of which I don't believe Harvey is actually a member, though he is associated--that arose in protest against conceptual art and such things as the Turner Prize.

I'd say that's a fine thing to protest. The Turner Prize gets won each year by something that's difficult for most to view as art (now who sounds like a philistine?). For example, Martin Creed won the prize in 2001 for his work: an empty room with the lights going on and off. Really, just check out the list.

Anyhow, I learned something and got to look at a lot of art. Almost makes up for the fact that I didn't go out last night.