I think it is a brilliant idea, for obvious reasons, on Louvre's part. Duel between foes on neutral turf. It is the best way to show what is going to be killed in the competition and why. Boris Shoshensky
-- "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: Completely new subject. (I feel I have said my piece on jazz...) In todays 'Le Figaro' there is piece by a certain Jean-Louis Harouel who apparently wrote a book called 'Culture et Contre-Cultures' and who teaches at Paris II. Prof Harouel rails against the contemporary art which has recently been installed in various galleries in the Louvre to 'dialogue' (thats the Louvres official term) with the existing art. E.g. in the Rubens Henri IV room there is what Harouel describes as 'a chaotic heap of rocks looking like the backyard of some untidy tombstone maker.' (I have seen photos; it does look a bit like that). The good professor takes the opportunity to have a large side swipe at contemporary art in general, which he describes as imposture and farce propped up by 'sociological, philosophical or spiritual propositions which, assuming one can work them out, are generally rubbish'. Only people who know nothing about art, Prof Harouel says, will be fooled by this stuff. And so on. It struck me that this situation might pose an interesting dilemma for some on our list. On the one hand we have the Louvre the very prestigious Louvre - saying (presumably): this stuff is art and it deserves to be in our galleries alongside Rubens, Rembrandt etc. On the other hand, we have a distinguished professor at one of Frances prestigious universities saying in no uncertain terms that it is junk. What do we do? Could Frances's 'learned experts' be called in to help perhaps? And what about those on the list who upbraid me from time to time for not being able to produce explicit standards to judge art by, and not being able to give chapter and verse on why I say something is or is not art? How might they proceed in this case? Do they have their standards ready at hand now to roll out and give to the Louvre and to the good professor to settle the argument? Now would be an ideal moment... DA _____________________________________________________________ Hotel pics, info and virtual tours. Click here to book a hotel online. http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2221/fc/Ioyw6i4uHAe3YzhdTj7tUgneBdyHgd dU47lsfxaBZes8XFUiO4UXvG/
