Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Creative Yet Ugly

Once a year I give a guest lecture at my college alma mater to students of architecture. The subject matter can be wide ranging, but the students always want to talk 'design'.
During the Q&A after the talk a couple of years ago a student asked the very intriguing question..."Is it possible for a work of art to lack aesthetic yet be filled with creative thought at the same time." Perhaps a more clear way to ask this is "can a man-made element be very creative, and yet ugly."
I told him I certainly thought so and that the idea is solidly illustrated by practically every work involving Frank Gehry.
Understand that architect Frank Gehry is an icon and hero to most of these students. I believe he is very creative and that his architecture is manipulative and ugly. So it goes.

Recently a friend sent me a silly picture. I found some extra meaning in it because it also tells the truth about the possibility of 'creativity' being married to 'not so pretty'. (Marriage jokes are allowed in the comments area.)

The Professor's Grade:
Creativity: A+
Aesthetic Achievement: F-

11 comments:

xwy said...

I tried to come up with a witty comment..but seriously I couldn't stop laughing long enough. "Can I?" should always be married to the question "Should I?". Too many people don't realize that.

That architect's design...what the heck is that? It looks like he borrowed the design from the duct work in my house.

Stacy The Peanut Queen said...

No. He. DIDN'T!

You're right...that was VERY creative. But pleasing to the eye???

NO WAY.

;)

Monogram Queen said...

Uh I think I saw this guy last week-end LOL Ugh. Gross. Earnhardt fans do it everytime (and i'm a Jr fan so I can say that).
Some women think a penis is ugly but they find the functionality of it pleasing. Food for thought!

Seven said...

Stormy,
I picked a Gehry example that is particulary goofy. He has major commissions throughout the world and is an architectural design celeb. I just don't want a seat on the bandwagon.

Queen of Nuts,
And sometimes you think PK is bad??? Imagine sitting beside this HUSBAND all day.....

Cakes,
Dang it...now you hurt my little buddy's feelings!

Monogram Queen said...

I didn't say I thought they were ugly, I think they are beautiful personally but i've heard women make deragatory comments ....

Seven said...

Cakes,
I was only teasing ya. My little buddy can't actually think. This is contrary to myth and popular belief of course. But, he just hangs around with no thoughts in his head.
And for the record, yes they are not particularly designed for aesthetic are they?

Jenn said...

Wow - what a line of comments! Forget about the photo...which is, ahem....interesting.

Can I just say that The Idiot had a hairy back? EEEEwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww! I know...I know....I should have seen the writing on the wall...but he didn't have 'The Idiot' shaved into his back hair. If only....

Seven said...

Jenn,
I knew a guy in high school (really he was only 16 or 17) and he had hair all over his back and buns and legs and... and...it was everywhere....like a werewolf!
I always felt a little sorry for him cause he took a lot of teasing.

Stacy The Peanut Queen said...

I guess beauty is all in the eye of the beholder, huh? I personally prefer a man with hair on his chest...and I know a lot of women who'd rather have a guy with NO hair on his chest....they like their men smooth.

To each his own, I guess.

(Although. if #3 in the picture was MY hubby, I'd have waxed his back myself! Either that or maybe sat three rows down from him!) ;)

Sereena said...

Frank Gehry has a jewelry line at Tiffany & Co.

It's not very pretty.

Seven said...

Sereena x,
I believe this.