Wednesday, August 30, 2006

Mock Movement Marathon: Step 2: Voting and Mission

OK, so today's task involves two steps. Voting for your favorite name and drafting a mission statement for the movement. We'll work out the "rules" by the end of the week and, voila, we'll have a manifesto!

Voting
To make this a little less like herding cats than it would be otherwise, I've narrowed the names down to the five that seem most frequently commented on (not a statistical or scientific certainty, but who has time for that? We have a mock movement to build):

  1. Casualism
  2. Post Allism
  3. Wannabeism
  4. Fundaminimalism
  5. Sizzlemyshizelism
Vote for two, your first favorite will be weighed with 2 points, your second favorite with 1. Winner announced tomorrow.

Mission
Without a definitive name it might be tough to do much in drafting a mission statement, I realize, but perhaps a quick review of other manifestos' mission statements will lead to some basic premises being thrown out there (i.e., sharpening our parody fangs).

Here's the first few paragraphs of the Futurists' manifesto:
The cry of rebellion which we utter associates our ideals with those of the Futurist poets. These ideals were not invented by some aesthetic clique. They are an expression of a violent desire which boils in the veins of every creative artist today.

We will fight with all our might the fanatical, senseless and snobbish religion of the past, a religion encouraged by the vicious existence of museums. We rebel against that spineless worshipping of old canvases, old statues and old bric-a-brac, against everything which is filthy and worm-ridden and corroded by time. We consider the habitual contempt for everything which is young, new and burning with life to be unjust and even criminal.

Comrades, we tell you now that the triumphant progress of science makes profound changes in humanity inevitable, changes which are hacking an abyss between those docile slaves of past tradition and us free moderns, who are confident in the radiant splendor of our future.

We are sickened by the foul laziness of artists, who, ever since the sixteenth century, have endlessly exploited the glories of the ancient Romans.
And since it's silly to consider the beginning or ending of most Dada Manifestos any more relevant than any other part of them, I've excerpted a chunk out of middle of the one by Tristan Tzara (because it's fun):
IT IS DADA BEGINNING TO SPEAK TO YOU

cubism constructs a cathedral of artistic liver paste
WHAT DOES DADA DO?
expressionism poisons artistic sardines
WHAT DOES DADA DO?
simultaneism is still at its first artistic communion
WHAT DOES DADA DO?
futurism wants to mount in an artistic lyricism-elevator
WHAT DOES DADA DO?
unanism embraces allism and fishes with an artistic line
WHAT DOES DADA DO?
neo-classicism discovers the good deeds of artistic art
WHAT DOES DADA DO?
paroxysm makes a trust of all artistic cheeses
WHAT DOES DADA DO?
ultraism recommends the mixture of these seven artistic things
WHAT DOES DADA DO?
creationism vorticism imagism also propose some artistic recipes
WHAT DOES DADA DO?
WHAT DOES DADA DO?

50 francs reward to the person who finds the best
way to explain DADA to us
And because it's easier to parody a serious effort than it is one that's already somewhat humorous, here's the (rather vague) essence of Kirchner's manifesto for Die Brücke (pdf file), which he reportedly engraved in wood (hint, hint):
Believing in development and in a new generation both of those who create and those who enjoy, we call upon the young to come together, as young people, who will bear the future, who want freedom in our work and in our lives, independence from older, established forces. Anyone who conveys directly and without falsification the powers that compel him to create is one of us.
From this cursory review, it seems the basics of any mission statement for a movement include 1) announcing your intentions to serve the interests of the common people in conjuction with (if not over) your own; 2) insisting upon the healing powers of creative endeavors; 3) expressing disgust with the status quo; 4) and some take-away bite-sized sales pitch to rally the true believers.

So, what are the basic tenents of the mock movement? What/how will it serve the interests of the common people? What's its stand on the healing powers of creative endeavors? What exactly is the status quo it must be disgusted with? And what's the sales pitch, or slogan?

Vote early and Vote often!

28 Comments:

Blogger The Hanger-On said...

My votes:

1. Casualism
2. Fundaminimalism

I think, though, that these could turn into real and regularly used categories of description and criticism (if not real movements).

8/30/2006 12:10:00 PM  
Anonymous David said...

I'm just going to vote once. Here are my choices:

1. Fundaminimalism (slogan: "art by the rules")
2. Casualism (slogan: "whatever")

----------------------

As far as manifestos, I've been thinking about some for Fundaminimalism (onesock and Tim have a great start on Casualism):

1.) All art must follow the rules.
2.) Art that doesn't follow the rules isn't art.
3.) Not knowing the rules is no excuse.
4.) The rules may change at any time.

8/30/2006 12:12:00 PM  
Blogger The Hanger-On said...

Hi David,

I suggest leaving out rule two, as it's implied in rule one. Then we'd have three rules, just like Lawrence Weiner's magical statements!

8/30/2006 12:15:00 PM  
Anonymous David said...

h.o., good suggestion. I agree, it's an improvement. But let's see what happens. We may be starting with "whatever", or something else. :)

8/30/2006 12:20:00 PM  
Blogger John Morris said...

We live in an age that is Post- All art

Post-All value

Post- all Truth

Post- all Beauty

And we the Post- All artists are postal about it.

I propose that our movement merge with Dada to create Post- All DAdA

8/30/2006 12:48:00 PM  
Blogger aurix said...

My votes:

1. Post Allism
2. Wannabeism

8/30/2006 01:00:00 PM  
Blogger onesock said...

Since Casualism was my idea, I must abstain. Plus, I like Fundaminimalism too. It seems that they may be at complete opposite ends o' the spectrum!

Ideas on both--

Fundaminalist Manifesto

1) All art MUST follow the rules
2) Art that doesnt follow the rules isnt art! SCratch THAT!
3) Not knowing the rules is no excuse! Every month a nesletter will be sent to you with said rules. They may change at anytime depending on who is the supreme ruler of the movement. For example, one day it may be okay to paint ironic little loopy-things, the nexy not! SO watch out!
4) The consequences of NOT following the rules are severe! First of all you will be BANISHED FOR LIFE from the Winkleman Blog and a select team of US Government trained tortures will come to your house, tie you up, force you to watch 1,000 hours of "Artstar" and call you "poopoo-head" repeatedly. ..I said they were severe!
5) Entrance into the movement will involve a background check and if we discover that you once colored outside the lines in grammar school (or any other time) you will not be allowed in and we may consider doing a number 4 on you! This also applies if we discover that you voted for Nader in 2000! The NSA will be used to monitor your activities!
6)By the way, we are GW's FAVORITE art movement, so THATS cool!
7) Oh and to STAY on his good side, some of these precepts MAY sprinkle over into your regular life as well, like we may have to tell you who you can or cannot marry an stuff, but we'll let ya know, no biggie!
8) WHich bringsus to OUR MANTRA!

WE BELEIVE IN ART BY THE RULES! FREEDOM IN ART IS FOR WISHYWASHY FOLKS WHO LIKE TOFU! FREEDOM IS SOOOO 1960, RIGHT? SO LETS GET ON THE FUNDAMINIMALISM TRAIN PEOPLE AND RIDE IT INTO THE SUNSET! WE ALL HAVE GUNS SO DONT TRY TO MESS WITH US! AN WE GOT TATOOS ON OUR AURAS SO YOU CAN TELL US APART FROM THE FROOFROOS! DEATH TO AMBIGUITY IN ART! NO MORE THINKING! WE WILL TELL YA WHAT TO DO! THE SOVIETS HAD MARX, WE HAVE BOB ROSS!!!!

8/30/2006 01:07:00 PM  
Blogger onesock said...

Here is the image Fundaminimalism could use on its banners, flyers, ect.. it is off MArisa Olson's flickr blog so we may have to ask to use.. er.. hell we dont have to ask we got GUNS for crissakes!


http://www.flickr.com/photos/marisaolson/177374169/

myidears for casualism coming soon.

8/30/2006 01:14:00 PM  
Anonymous Henry said...

Vote: Fundaminimalism. (No second choice).

I can understand why you'd want to include the statement "2) Art that doesn't follow the rules isn't art." It's the fiercest and most common battle to decide what pieces are "art" and what pieces aren't.

In that light, I might suggest eliminating rule number 1, and letting rule 2 stand on its own. Frankly I think it makes the rules sound more oppressive and disconcerting....

8/30/2006 01:14:00 PM  
Anonymous michael said...

1. casualism
2. fundaminimalism

8/30/2006 01:21:00 PM  
Blogger Jackmormon said...

1. Fundaminimalism
2. Casualism.

Good luck with the movement, Edward!

8/30/2006 01:43:00 PM  
Anonymous David said...

onesock said... Since Casualism was my idea, I must abstain.

Oh, c'mon onesock. Go ahead and vote. I thought about abstaining too, but then decided what the hell. Of course I'm compelled to follow the rules, and I guess you're being casual :)

8/30/2006 01:43:00 PM  
Blogger onesock said...

Casualist Womanafesto!!

!) Hey dudes * ,whatever.
2) Hey check it out, no blanket statements from us! Unless its cold outside of course.
3) Art is sooooo awesome! I once knew a guy who glued some tortillas to a canvas and discovered that the rats ate them off during the night so he glued some more so they could have some more...AWeSoME!
4) ARt is KNEE-Toe!! get it? our sister does ab-ex, our bro does post-concept, I do neo-geo, my mama does dada! Awesome!
5) Smell your kneaded eraser sometime, its AWesOmE!
6) HEy, anyone wanna start a kickball team?
7)Okay so check it out, the forest has Smokey the Bear right? well, we got that gut on Sesame STreet who would sneakup on people an paint letters on their sandwiches and stuff (or was it the Electric Co.? we cant remember)
8) A lot of our art is inspired by a trip we all took somewhere. We admired the people there. They were Awesome!
9) Comrades, we tell you now that the triumphant progress of science makes profound changes in humanity inevitable, changes which are hacking an abyss between those docile slaves of past tradition and us free moderns, who are confident in the radiant splendor of our future.
...yeah right, WHATEVER!!!

* (instead of comrades)

8/30/2006 02:02:00 PM  
Blogger The Artist Extraordinaire said...

2pts. Casualism
Statment: It's all good, relax, it will all work out. If you call it art, cool, it's art.

1pt. Post Allism
Statement: It's all over. Art is dead, fuck it. Do whatever you feel like, because nothing means anything. Or everything means something. Or everything means nothing. And finally, everything means everything.

8/30/2006 02:03:00 PM  
Blogger onesock said...

please add /change any of my nonsense!

8/30/2006 02:03:00 PM  
Blogger onesock said...

Of course I'm compelled to follow the rules, and I guess you're being casual :)

Yep. I am the Casualest Casualist around.

8/30/2006 02:05:00 PM  
Anonymous David said...

Just don't be a Casualty of Casualism.

Edward, please either count onesock's awesome manifesto above as a vote for Casualism, or count me in as making another vote for Casualism.

8/30/2006 02:17:00 PM  
Blogger onesock said...

"Yep. I am the Casualest Casualist around."
Thats what I better tell my wife if she comes home an the house isnt clean!

I was thinking that the logo for Casualism would be a pic of Clem Greenberg saying "whatever!"

okay sorry I hogged this I am outa here to get ready for class.

Oh and for number 7 its the GUY on Sesame street. He's Awesome!

8/30/2006 02:19:00 PM  
Blogger onesock said...

Edward, please either count onesock's awesome manifesto above as a vote for Casualism, or count me in as making another vote for Casualism.

Hey I live in Florida, so I can tell when a vote is rigged! (or maybe I can't)

I think another punishment under Fundaminimalism would be a word verification that is 100 characters long!!

8/30/2006 02:23:00 PM  
Anonymous David said...

Hey I live in Florida, so I can tell when a vote is rigged!

As we say in California, Go Gators! Have a great class. Hopefully the Supreme Court will stay out of this.

8/30/2006 02:29:00 PM  
Blogger onesock said...

I vote for Post Allism!!! no second

Woah, my word verification IS like 100 chars. long!

8/30/2006 02:31:00 PM  
Blogger John Morris said...

I have to vote for Casualism, partly because it seems the least likely to spin off ugly terrorist groups.

8/30/2006 03:01:00 PM  
Blogger Tim said...

Casualism
Fundaminimalism

I honestly think Casualism is already happening out here.

Casualists first principal: Dudes, don't be a drag.

Required (OK, suggested) Practice: Wake and Bake.

Master Gesture: Elbows bent, palms up, Shrug.

Manifestoe: What's that smell?

8/30/2006 03:17:00 PM  
Anonymous George said...

Someone shoould have suggested "Machiavellism"

onesock?

8/30/2006 03:36:00 PM  
Anonymous jen said...

1. casualism
2. wannabeism

Thought I'd send a link to a current (serious) movement happening around here.
http://audiologo.blogspot.com/2006/06/carbonist-school-is-in-session-june-24.html

8/30/2006 04:05:00 PM  
Anonymous Eric said...

1. Post Allism
2. Sizzlemyshizelism

I was going to give both votes to Post Allism, but then I felt sorry for Shizzle.

I agree that Casualism just seems too close to the de facto standard. Ditto for Wannabeism.

8/31/2006 01:32:00 AM  
Anonymous onesock morning said...

I kinda have the feeling that there are 2 versions of Post Allism expressed here. My vote was for the artist extraordinaire's take.

I understand the idea that to declare an art manifesto implies that one is against the status quo, so ,therefore, if a statement echoes the status quo it is rendered useless. But a manifesto in 2006 is useless no matter what is it not? What I mean is, the Stuckists ( and i think some recognize this) cannot claim a styistic superiority to the "accepted" art because one sees similar things in the galleries and museums. The STuckist aethethetic in all its varieties is already accepted (everything is), its just a matter of quality and access. The latter perhaps being a worthy topic for manifestoey type struggle for change, if we are to believe that the ideal is quality equals access.

8/31/2006 08:00:00 AM  
Blogger Edward_ said...

The polls are closed.

Results coming soon.

8/31/2006 08:07:00 AM  

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