Sunday, September 03, 2006

Baby Geniuses

The other day I happened to mosey into a gallery and saw a work of art that consisted of a cut-out of a moose stapled to a piece of canvas going for about $6,500. I do not pretend to be a connoisseur of art but I couldn't help but think that a kindergartner could produce something equally impressive, if not more so. It led me through a series of random questions. Do average children have just as much genius as adults? Who defines genius? What is it? Is it naturally bestowed on an individual or can one work for it?

4 comments:

Shayden said...

Awww, Mer...You're so sweet! Thank you. :) And many thanks to Mr. Malone for presenting the Marla Olmstead bit!

In the LA Weekly it mentioned that Marla Olmstead's work is "restlessly inventive and experimental", presumably giving her the air of genius. As an adult, could invention and experimentation be more difficult when personalities have been molded and one becomes "set" in his or her ways? By adulthood we have a concept of judgement, which may limit what would might have been creative freedoms. We work to create positive opinions in others of our products and ourselves. I believe innocence plays a large part in the potential of genius because when one is unaware of what expectations should be met, one is free to do anything and fully explore one's creativity, and thus present fresh, innovative (and maybe even ingenius!) ideas.

Vvyynn said...

I would have to agree with the bunny, or at least on example two. You cannot define art. As I've been ranting elsewhere, art is everywhere, art is everything, art is nowhere, art is nothing. What you think isn't art (I.e the moose) another person might buy simply because it is a moose stapled to a piece of canvas. Also, it is true genius is defined by others. If I say I am a genius and I convince myself on this, but no one else thinks it, ever, then I won't be a genius. Of course, this is the public genius, the genius that'll go down in history. Let's go to another example. We have just stated that you, Sarah, are a genius for asking this question. What will make you the concept of "genius". This, I believe, might be able to be determined simply by yourself. To achieve the conceptual genius, you must believe without a shadow of a doubt that you are a genius. Then, you will be a genius in your own little fishbowl. Outside of the fishbowl, you may not be a genius, however to you you are, and that is what matters for the conceptual genius. Well, I think I've royally confused everyone (including myself!), so I'll stop now. Good Day.

Vvyynn said...

Incidentally, How'd they get enough money to fund a second movie? Wasn't the first one terrible? Meh. Oh well.

Vvyynn said...

Yeah, your right you handsome devil, you. The first movie WAS terrible. Wow, your just too amazing for any of us, even me. Let's all give Vinni a sandwhich on Monday, whose with me? Remember he's a vegetarian.