An interesting, and even kindly, comment by William - who seems to agree with my argument, but objects to a phrase that seems to present a blatant expression of bias.
So let me make one thing perfectly clear: I freely admit that, ultimately, all my judgments in art are unreasonably biased, and I doubt whether anyone else's are not, even if they have been academically, economically, and/or institutionally vetted. When I write about art, I try to display my bias rather than hide it, and feel there is something creepy , dishonest, or school-boyish about those who do not. Regardless of the amazing variety of cultural artifacts available to us in the modern world, we each have been shaped by the narrow circumstances of our time, place, and family. And I have to admit, that by some important criteria, my family circumstances have been wackier than most. (although, by some other criteria, they were quite normal) BTW -- I have no ambitions to write for the New Yorker - and it's probably only by freakish circumstance that my writing about art is now getting published at all. >The one thing wrong with Miller's comment is, again, his habit to insert his bias in an otherwise ok sentence. His term "ever-wackier" as a prefix to a bland phrase "trends...." is deadly. Readers know by this prefix that Miller has an agenda, one that may distort his subject making his analysis useless. Miller is essentially right when he refers to sociology. The art world calls it "cultural studies" and then refers to art as "visual culture" to signify the hugely expanded arena for art and art practice. When Miller gets rid of those prefix adjectives that ruin the reasoning of his text, he may begin to think in the terms others can understand without needing to account for his unreasoned bias. For instance, re-read the first Miller sentence above and subtract "ever-wackier" and you'll have a decent proposition (the implied broadening of art contexts) that can then be examined for its value. But with the "ever-wackier" he makes an unsubstantiated claim and tries to establish an a-priori sentiment against the "trends of the postwar...". wc ____________________________________________________________ Weight Loss Program Best Weight Loss Program - Click Here! http://thirdpartyoffers.netzero.net/TGL2231/c?cp=S6yYsiVGiv6TAxvkOxtP_wAAJz6c l_zTaptgNR5c8Mer1v9kAAYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAADNAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEUgAAAAA=
