Is art essential?

[observer]

Seems Taunton Council have cut their Arts budget by 100% in response to this era of austerity. If you were freezing in a poverty stricken home, would you throw a copy of War and Peace or a Picasso (that you had no time to sell!) onto the fire?

[Dizzy]

I think I'd find the time to sell the Picasso Obs.... infact why would I not have already sold it or did I not realise I had it

[observer]

... but your freezing to death and need a fire to survive till morning.

[Mary]

You should read the old book - A Razor's Edge - it answers that question quite well.

[observer]

Sorry Mary, didn't read it, must have thrown it on the fire!

[Dizzy]

but WHY would I suddenly find myself freezing to death Surely I must have realsied that the weather would soon be getting colder so WHY didn't I sell the picasso sooner ...

 

Ooooh see what you have done now

[Eagle]

The age of reason is struggling to encroach into Warrington, how the hell could someone with a Picasso be living in poverty other than by choice?

[wolfie]

I'de have a walk to the art gallery, it's usually warm in there.

[Evil Sid]

if it is their arts budget then that covers quite a lot. from paintings to stage performances, musical recitals and operas to name but a few.

 

by the way i am freezing but cannot burn the books or the picassos as i live in a smoke free zone and have no fireplace to burn them in

 

not only that but i do not have anything to light them with

[harry hayes]

Isn't there a saying about knowing the price of everything and the value of nothing.

 

Happy days

[observer]

I guess the unemployed could get up a bit early and sell their unmade bed as an art exibit?!

[silverlady54]

Isn't some of the world's greatest art and music supposed to come from those in impoverished conditions?

[Peter T]

obs,

are you bored?

 

Are you talking about the Arts budget or burning a Picasso?

 

Taunton have plenty of wood to burn without burning books or pictures.

 

It wouldn't be a bad idea if WBC stopped supporting that drain on our finances called the Pyramid.

Was that one of your projects or the back stabbers?

[Sue Durnim]

Is art essential, depends on what you call art?

 

I enjoy most art in all its guises and been to a few art exhibitions, theatre?s, pop concert etc, so it must be good for tourism, spending of money not just for entrance fees but hotel accommodation, travel etc and also to enlightened the mind. I bet posters (excuse the pun) on this forum have a picture or print on the wall at home of something.

 

Is art essential, don?t know, but it makes my world a little more bearable, it?s all subjective anyway.

[asperity]

Of course art is one of life's necessities, but that doesn't mean that the taxpayer has to fork out so that the luvvies can keep the luxurious lifestyles that many (not all, granted) have become accustomed. If it's any good it will pay for itself in my humble opinion.

[observer]

Not exactly necessary for one's survival.

[asperity]

Exactly

[observer]

Suppose art arrives when one has the luxury of time and spare cash, to ponder on abstact concepts, rather than survival.

[Peter T]

Isn't art the modern investment as opposed to gold and silver of yester-year?

[Lt Kije]

I am completly with Asperity on this, His post says it all

[observer]

Yes Peter, but like the King's suit of cloths, value is in the eye of the beholder - the traditional "secure" investment is gold, which is now rocketing in price - alas, Gordie sold most of ours!