Darker thoughts

Here’s my thought for the day, and a dark one it is.

The next, upcoming generation does not see art the same way we –meaning my generation-does. The stuff I make is permanent and substantial (think solid as opposed to thinking of that word as a value). What the art or amusement of the young looks like is much more transient- computer images, like Utube and all those throwaway funny pictures-images used once and then disposed.  The fact of the matter is, there is SO much visual stimulation out there, why stick with one thing? As William Burroughs wrote in Nova Express, “Images. Millions of images. That's what I eat.”

Why stay monogamous, when there is so much out there to sate your taste? We have those picture “frames” that move through your snapshot collection (ain't it nice to cuddle and coo over the relatives without the use of your hands?) and monster TVs that dominate a wall with an ever-changing, multi-media show. Even the news mags/rags carry a plethora of images far more interesting and emotionally moving than a static thing you hang on your wall. After all, the thing does not move, does not speak and it needs occasional cleaning. Why be married to a dinosaur?

As for my older audience, rapidly marching to communal homes in which to spend their final years-they all seem to be downsizing-moving to much smaller quarters…

And for those those in between, so many now are in danger of losing their jobs, once thought permanent (a word that is rapidly losing its value). If owning a home is risky, then what possessions can you count as keepsakes? A keepsake or anything sentimental means nothing when forced to become nomads for survival.

I don't know that traditional art that has substance will ever disappear, but the art museums will become similar to libraries. Who needs reference books when you can get all the information you need from your smartphone? And novels? Simply visit the internet, pay your money, and download whatever to your e-reader.

For me this is scary stuff-but it is the present and not what is to come. I can't imagine what's around the corner, considering how fast things are moving day-to-day. I s'pose it's great to be a witness to it all, but there's a point when I'd like to know that there are brakes-but there are no brakes.