Rant 73: The function of art criticism

Let me just slit my throat here...

YES

and, in a moment of doubt, Probably.

"the current generation of journalists be using artists as content in order to create value for themselves"

and, in a moment of hopefulnes, Maybe not all of them?

"If 'content' is the new 'judgement', do writers make use of artists to validate their own career, creating value for themselves by strategic association?"

and, then back to "YES, probably".

I think this a very interesting "rant" and I cannot wait to see what else comes up.  Sorry my contribution is a bit whimsical, I'm getting increasingly convinced that verbal and visual communication should keep well apart, but that's another matter! It's just so tempting to join the "rant"! 

"yet the relationship between judgement and value was a touchy issue which every member of the panel dodged as if their lives depended on it."

Just read this again, and cannot stop myself inwardly laughing.  Of course they did!

Is there anywhere I can get a copy of that discussion, it sounds very interesting?

 Thanks for your comments. I don't think the ICA have made recording of their events available yet, but I believe they plan to. I'm making an equiry and will keep you posted. Meanwhile here's the link to the event description http://www.ica.org.uk/?lid=30934

Thank you very much Helen, I will take a look at that, I appreciate it, and thank you for writing such a good "Rant"!

Given that so few critics are prepared to haul their lazy arses beyond Zone One, they are a complete irrelevance to most artists working in the UK today.

I think it was Barnet Newman who once said that critics are as relevant to artists as ornithologists are to birds.

Value, validation, worth, status... do they not exist for artists who aren't written about? At an art auction, value is attributed for a particular moment in time in a particular space without anyone writing a word. Other barters and exchanges also bestow value, worth etc.

I have just been reading Agamben on taste and its appearance in the mid 17th century. I wonder if judgement is still attached to taste and whether the cristicism of taste can hold for judgement? 

Great rant sorry to be so late on the uptake!