The software heist of the century, or a modern art masterpiece? - Polidicks

You know, if you look at this from a legal context, this is actually a great way to get out of the legal issues with pirating all this shit. Assuming you torrented it to express a thought, you are protected by both the US constitution and the UN declaration of human rights (Article 19). As an artistic thing I think this is actually a pretty ingenious work of art.

[QUOTE=Rick Ross;31940697]Hardrive by toshiba, data by piratebay. The artist did not express an idea or imagining. The hardrive was not a reflection of the human condition, but a reflection of precision Japanese manufacturing processes.[/QUOTE] is it not interesting that something so common can be worth so much based on the data inside?

[QUOTE=Rick Ross;31940697]Hardrive by toshiba, data by piratebay. The artist did not express an idea or imagining. The hardrive was not a reflection of the human condition, but a reflection of precision Japanese manufacturing processes.[/QUOTE] that's like saying Duchamp's "Fountain" is just about plumbing technology

[QUOTE=Xenocidebot;31940293]The problem with this is that it makes [I]everything[/I] capable of being art dependent on context, which completely negates the meaning of the word "art." If enough idiots start taking this stance, we'll need a new word for "art that wasn't just made by some douchebag by putting a couple stolen book reports on a hard drive."[/QUOTE] The 'dependent on context' part is what's important, because anything can be art but it completely depends on how it's presented. Art is entirely subjective, as is music (a subset of art). What you consider noise, others might consider music. Drone, for example, is one such genre that is argued over. There are those who see it as legitimate music, and others who see it as random notes. In this case with a hard drive, the novelty and sheer criminality of the device are enough to make people think in new ways. And if it can make you think, I see no better label than art. Like it or not, art is not determined objectively, nor arbitrated by some designated committee. If enough people feel it's art, then it's art. You are free to dismiss it as you wish, but accepting that others may feel differently and for good reason is the respectful thing to do, rather than join in the 'lol its just a hard drive thats not art' knee-jerk reactions that fill this thread.

[QUOTE=SoaringScout;31938694]This is what I hate about modern art, anything can be put in a museum because someone called it art.[/QUOTE] but that's what makes art great. that's what allows innovation. people bitched complained about picasso when he was starting up but I dare you to hate on Guernica in front of me [editline]25th August 2011[/editline] [QUOTE=Xenocidebot;31940293]The problem with this is that it makes [I]everything[/I] capable of being art dependent on context, [/QUOTE] which is how it should be [QUOTE=Xenocidebot;31940293]which completely negates the meaning of the word "art." [/QUOTE] no it doesn't, no more does every landscape in the world being "natural" negate the natural beauty of any specific landscape [QUOTE=Xenocidebot;31940293]If enough idiots start taking this stance, we'll need a new word for "art that wasn't just made by some douchebag by putting a couple stolen book reports on a hard drive."[/QUOTE] cool, let's be jerks and call each other idiots. [editline]25th August 2011[/editline] let's just be children and treat each other like garbage in this debate about arts

[QUOTE=catbarf;31942773]Art is entirely subjective, as is music (a subset of art). What you consider noise, others might consider music. Drone, for example, is one such genre that is argued over. There are those who see it as legitimate music, and others who see it as random notes.[/QUOTE] The people who argue against drone are idiots who don't know what words mean. Music is [URL="http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/music"]the science or art of ordering tones or sounds in succession, in combination, and in temporal relationships to produce a composition having unity and continuity.[/URL] Drone involves intentionally ordered tones in succession, combination, and with changes over time to create one composition. It's music. The "random" argument is used more frequently against noise and such, which are for the most part [I]not[/I] music by definition, lacking tone (you cannot pinpoint pitches, even with recordings and analysis tools), lacking distinct changes over time, and not resembling a cohesive whole any more than several individual harsh sounds. Similarly, 4′33″ is not music. You can argue whether it's performance art or not, but it is not music by definition. To claim otherwise is a misuse of the word. [QUOTE=catbarf;31942773]In this case with a hard drive, the novelty and sheer criminality of the device are enough to make people think in new ways. And if it can make you think, I see no better label than art.[/QUOTE] You could call it an object produced by way of skill and creativity, or you could call it a novelty. Is the former definition contested? Highly. Is the latter? No. Hey look, it's a novelty. We have a word for it now. Joy. [QUOTE=catbarf;31942773]Like it or not, art is not determined objectively, nor arbitrated by some designated committee. If enough people feel it's art, then it's art.[/QUOTE] Incorrect. The word "art" has a set of meanings used by society at large and agreed upon by the majority of its members. While it is subjective to a degree, extremely loose understandings are not worth acknowledging and are not by society. Every word is subjective to a degree. People use things loosely all the time. But allowing words to encompass every little trivial thing on a personal level does nothing but make you difficult to communicate with, because the rest of us like to keep things semi-specific. [QUOTE=SigmaLambda;31943166]but that's what makes art great. that's what allows innovation. people bitched complained about picasso when he was starting up but I dare you to hate on Guernica in front of me[/QUOTE] IT FUCKING SUCKS but no seriously you're pretending cranky old men not liking abstract and surrealist shit because of ~tradition~ in a specific set of areas and timeframes is in any way analogous to the majority of people not liking random crap put on pedestals and it's really naive and annoying [QUOTE=SigmaLambda;31943166]no it doesn't, no more does every landscape in the world being "natural" negate the natural beauty of any specific landscape[/QUOTE] Is this a sentence? [QUOTE=SigmaLambda;31943166]let's just be children and treat each other like garbage in this debate about arts [/QUOTE] This isn't a debate. Your not knowing what words mean and lack of understanding of basic linguistic concepts is not a "debate", it is you being wrong. Of course I'm going to be condescending as hell about it, I've cleared this one up with more hippie fucks than I can count. Creating disillusioned hippie fucks is a favorite pastime of mine. But fine, I'll stop buzzkilling and let y'all get back to circlejerking the harddrive. Maybe there's porn on it.

ITT: People butthurt about what others think is art.

What the hell Softimage Face Robot costs 95000?

[QUOTE=jeimizu;31942510]that's like saying Duchamps "the fountain" is just about plumbing technology[/QUOTE] They don't make them on an assembly line, do they?

[QUOTE=Rick Ross;31944773]They don't make them on an assembly line, do they?[/QUOTE] I'd imagine most toilets are.

[QUOTE=Xenocidebot;31944092]:words:[/QUOTE] You're just defining art the way you think art is and saying that's what it is, no ifs, ands, or butts. It's fucking stupid.

[QUOTE=synthiac;31916092]speaking of modern art [media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0NLLRKGVDl4[/media][/QUOTE] That's actually really fucking cool.

[QUOTE=jeimizu;31944802]I'd imagine most toilets are.[/QUOTE] Have you ever seen a sitcom where somebody is working with materials in a public setting then an artist comes by and says, "Oh my god, that piece is beautiful, I must have one for my gallery," and the character is looking at the artist like 'wtf' because it is a piece of trash? It is like that.

[QUOTE=Xenocidebot;31944092]Similarly, 4′33″ is not music. You can argue whether it's performance art or not, but it is not music by definition. To claim otherwise is a misuse of the word. [/QUOTE] 4'33" is most definitely music. The sound is created by the audience. [editline]1[/editline] And other ambient sounds.

[QUOTE=Xenocidebot;31944092] The word "art" has a set of meanings used by society at large and agreed upon by the majority of its members.[/QUOTE] the majority can easily be wrong this is one of those times appeal to majority is one of those whatchamacallits

It's not a matter of wrong or right. Words are defined by their most common usage. Their meanings may be "set in stone" but they are still up to interpretation.

I have a feeling it's full of viruses and shit

[QUOTE=Xenocidebot;31944092]This isn't a debate. Your not knowing what words mean and lack of understanding of basic linguistic concepts is not a "debate", it is you being wrong. Of course I'm going to be condescending as hell about it, I've cleared this one up with more hippie fucks than I can count. Creating disillusioned hippie fucks is a favorite pastime of mine. But fine, I'll stop buzzkilling and let y'all get back to circlejerking the harddrive. Maybe there's porn on it.[/QUOTE] wow you're a fucking asshole [editline]25th August 2011[/editline] did abstract art rape your dog?

[QUOTE=Xenocidebot;31944092]Of course I'm going to be condescending as hell about it, I've cleared this one up with more hippie fucks than I can count. Creating disillusioned hippie fucks is a favorite pastime of mine.[/QUOTE] Well aren't you a condescending dick.

[QUOTE=Xenocidebot;31944092]Of course I'm going to be condescending as hell about it, I've cleared this one up with more hippie fucks than I can count. Creating disillusioned hippie fucks is a favorite pastime of mine.[/QUOTE] hey i live in san francisco man i ain't no hippie

wtf these idiot fuckers are talking about art? well i'll show them [editline]25th August 2011[/editline] i'm going to be respected and well-liked in no time

[QUOTE=SigmaLambda;31943166]but that's what makes art great. that's what allows innovation. people bitched complained about picasso when he was starting up but I dare you to hate on Guernica in front of me[/quote] wow you just compared this guy to picasso

i don't think i did but so what if i did

[QUOTE=Rick Ross;31948293]wow you just compared this guy to picasso[/QUOTE] are conceptual similarities not enough for you?

[QUOTE=Rick Ross;31948293]wow you just compared this guy to picasso[/QUOTE] wow you made another terrible post

[QUOTE=Rick Ross;31948293]wow you just compared this guy to picasso[/QUOTE] WOW

wow

Picasso is overrated

[QUOTE=Simski;31913916]What's the point in calling something "art" if "art" can be anything? This is why I hate modern art, it makes "art" a useless definition that can be used on absolutely everything.[/QUOTE] I had a friend taking art classes once. When he applies himself he's actually a pretty decent artist, but when he found out someone put a bicycle wheel on a stool and it sold at an art auction for thousands of dollars, he said "Fuck this" and dropped out.

[QUOTE=jeimizu;31942510]that's like saying Duchamp's "Fountain" is just about plumbing technology[/QUOTE] That is exactly what it is. A machine to show off its workings. In fact we need a lot more art museums filled with car engines, steam locomotives and the such.