How ARTISTIC and LITERATE are Cebuanos?

[The_Child]

---

On art, though it is subjective, but isn't there mainstream art? What could have posed problems if Cebuanos really are artistic to be recognized in the mainstream? Movies, paintings, music, architecture, sculpture, literature....

mainstream art? i dont believe such a thing as mainstream art. Mainstream art is so insincere. Its more on the ulterior motives rather on the sincerity of its creation. Art for me is one that is not devoid of truth. Unlike postmodernist art which is art for art sake... which i really dont consider art but perhaps that is what you meant by mainstream art. For me that is not art, but a mere fancy of colors and materials. It talks not of truth.

Art moves. Art is metaphysical. Art is truth.

The problem here lies in the definition of art. Mainstream Art factors the Market thus factors Social Configurations. So what Society like,s then that piece of Mainstream ARt is popularized and praised. But if society doesnt like it or perhaps the elite fashion/art critics dont like it, its thrown away. Mainstream Art is not about truth its about Public Opinion. Who makes public opinions? The Critics the art critics, the media. Such is why most independent films are usually not box 0ffice hits. because most of the independent films are deep and artistic which the general public could just not digest or if they did it results to a diarrhea of sorts.

[IceInHeLL]

I'm sorry but I have to disagree on this one. Like I said, there are certain authorities to different type of arts. The independent movies as you have mentioned do have it's own. Sundance Film Festival for one. I, myself, is an avid follower of independent movies. Its true that they don't usually make it to mainstream to become a blockbuster. I should say, though most of them have very interesting plot that is hard to be digested from the usual movie-goers, but you can't blame them for that either. Seldom of them make it to the theatres here and usually without marketing. I usually have to search in the net which of those new releases are critically-acclaimed. And to search for them in the movie shop is like "looking for a needle in the haystack". I usually have to spend hundreds of dollars to ask somebody to buy me one outside the country. But such independent movies do have their own followers. I also know that there are cebuano-made independent movies. But I don't know any that got recognition. Not even from Sundance. We could not blame the market also if not much people gets to bite independent movies. They usually lacks proper editing, and sometimes acting, to be found interesting. No proper marketing also. Take Blaire Witch as an example. It was an independent movie, but the people behind it was so creative that they were able to penetrate the mainstream making them the highest profiting film. They made more profits that Titanic itself. Although I know a lot of people did not appreciate the film, but there were people who did. Even some critiques were honest enough to call it "uniquely made". But how the movie evolve was lame if I may say so myself. Mainstream or not, there are proper authorities to judge such a work. If Cebuanos are as artistic as the rest of the world, what's the problem why didn't we be able to achieve recognition?

[The_Child]

There are of course authorities, but they are not dogmas nor are they Scientific Laws. From the different theories of Art, most of them are subjective and objective-- in a sense that Art and beauty for them relies heavily on the viewer, yet it is objective because Art and Beauty are universals. Now if we allow authorities to dictate upon us what is art and what is beautiful then i believe it becomes a performative contradiction in its part.

Art and Beauty is Objective because Beauty and Art is universal in way that one could understand that there is such a thing as Beauty and Art. How one could appreciate a Rembrandt is said to be Universal but why are there people who look at a Rembrandt but dismisses it as a mere painting if beauty is said to be Universal? it is a matter of refining ones perspective. Like a cataract it must be removed so one could see more clearly. One should become refined to clear this cataract and appreciate an Art which is Universal.

But Art is also in some way subjective. from Tolstoy to Vernon Lee to Santayana to Collingwood to Langer the commonality of their aesthetics is that it appeals to the self. One is touched or moved by that piece of Art, or the mystic experience one feels when he/she is in an aesthetic experience.... these are in a way subjective things.

In A simpler note, Art is Objective because we have an understanding that there is such a thing as Art. It is subjective because it appeals to the Self and it could never be quantified or measured. Art is in its essence unquantifiable

Cebuanos are as artistic as the rest of the world, what's the problem why didn't we be able to achieve recognition?

Again, what you are mentioning is Mainstream Art for me. and they have authorities. Each one of us have the potentiality of being Artistic but with Mainstream Art its more of Marketing. What these Authorities of Art are doing are merely trying to project their opinion on that matter in behalf of the Apathetic undisrcriminating unrefined public. What hinders art to be known? granting art as not merely for art sake, its perhaps of the sophistication of a Certain Art created or just plain Marketing problems.

[vanceloma]

don't forget the other Cebuanos!

*sus oist! bati-a ato Lady in the water na movie oi! wa jed klaro! abi nako mermaid2x to!

[IceInHeLL]

I hope I get to see around more of those sculptures like the one in Pari-an - The Heritage of Cebu. I really find it interesting.