i went to art school, and i really, really am not a fan of his paintings. HOWEVER, i had a very talented, very wise instructor who told me once that 'the quality, effectiveness, and success of a work often has little to do with YOUR personal taste.'

i always try to keep that in mind when i'm looking at art, particularly art that i hate.

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what i'm trying to say is that, a) this attitude towards art, music, film, literature, or whatever, doesn't always yield bad work, and b) that art as escapism isn't a new idea. it's not symptomatic of cultural 'laziness'. or maybe it is, in which case cultural laziness is a problem that has plagued the human race for a long-ass time.

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(from the episode "Conflict Resolution"):

Oscar: I don't like looking at it. It's creepy and in bad taste and it's just offensive to me. It makes me think of the horrible frigid stage mothers who forced the babies into it. It's kitsch. It's the opposite of art. It destroys art. It destroys souls. This is so much more offensive to me than hardcore porno.

(from the episode "Business School"):

Oscar: You're the one who said we needed more culture.

Gil: This is culture to you?

Oscar: It's her first try.

Gil: Yeah, on Van Gogh's first try, he drew the hands of the peasants.

Oscar: Meaning what?

Gil: Meaning, real art takes courage, okay? And honesty.

Oscar: Well, those aren't Pam's strong points.

Gil: Yeah, exactly. That's why this is... motel art.

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(Also, just *thinking* about Bob Ross makes me take a deep, calming breath.)

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