Friday Fictioneers is hosted by Rochelle with this week’s photo by Jennifer Pendergast. Join in and write 100 words inspired by the photo or click the little frog fellow to read other offerings.
“You see what I mean?” He shoved his glasses further up his nose, his scrawny arms flapping.
Sienna made a noncommittal noise, dodging her date’s waving.
“The existential crisis of the artist, the post-modern breakdown of society—it’s all there,” he said, stepping closer to the sculpture.
Sienna surreptitiously checked her watch. Surely he would need to refuel on coffee soon. Although, it might make his flailing more erratic. She almost suggested grabbing a bite at the overpriced cafe.
“I mean—this is historical.”
“It’s a giant bee! And you’re an idiot,” Sienna said instead, as she walked out of the museum.
Vers Les Etoiles 
The ” existential crisis of the artist, the post-modern breakdown of society” — this made me laugh, darling! You have no idea how many times I’ve stood in an art gallery staring at a piece of post-modern art and had to stop myself from strangling someone.
I just don’t “get” modern art—and I’m really okay with that. I thought you might enjoy the appearance of one of those modern day hipsters you love so much!
Also, the things people spout all sound like complete bullshit. It’s a chair. Why is that art.
I’m with you both on this. At the Cleveland Museum of Art, one of the “masterpieces” is a huge painting of two different colors, one on each half. That’s it. Heck, my girls did better art than that before they were ten! Wanderer, you’re right about all the “stuff” that’s spouted about this “art.”
janet
It honestly kind of reminds me of some of the things that pass for “literature” these days, too!
I don’t want to look at art and think “I can do that” in the way one says “a monkey could do that.” I’d like to look at art and writing and say “Wow. That’s fantastic and I THINK, if I work really hard, maybe I can do that—or something like it.”
I’d like it to be something I’d like to do if I could, rather than looking at it and thinking, “Why?” or, worse, looking at it with disgusted amazement.
Precisely!
And I agree about too much “literature” as well. I know that taste has something to do with it, but there’s bad taste as well as tasteless. 🙂
Oh yes. I’m completely with Sienna here – this guy falls firmly into the kind of dates my MC used to go on before she gave up the game. I hope she’s luckier with the next one!
I would have pushed him into the bee—-but that’s just me. Sienna is more restrained. I hope she’s luckier too!
I’d find the giant bee interesting too.
But you probably wouldn’t try to read deep meaning into it…unless you where a bit pissed or maybe just knackered?
Ha!!! Rat-arsed, lovey
There are too many words for drunk to pick from. Rat-arsed—-I’ll remember.
It’s all subjective. He needs to find a woman who appreciates his taste and ideas.
That’s very true!
Hahahahahahaha! That was delightful!
Thank you!! So glad you liked it!
Don’t you just love him… well perhaps not. Nicely characterised – I wanted to hit him.
Haha I want to hit him too. Glad you liked it!
Dear Wanderer,
As an art school dropout, I relate to this. I heard enough of that existential nonsense to justify bad art and lack of talent to last a lifetime. Good story. I enjoyed it.
Shalom,
Rochelle
Rochelle,
You will understand the frustration even better than I do! I’m glad you liked it.
Oh my gosh. I’ve been on this date. Hope she’s got a good girlfriend or sister who can call her halfway through with an “emergency”!
I think she got past that point and stormed out—he probably didn’t even notice!
Art is a broad term for items that easily could be labeled junk. I never got the understanding of all those terms and think many who believe they do are pretending.
I think it can all be a matter of taste and—like many other things—some people just have different taste! I don’t understand how some tangled wire can be art, but the artist obviously felt some powerful emotion while creating.
To each their own!
I went to San Francisco Museum of Art last spring. Never been so bored in all my life. A giant bee would have saved it though!
As modern art go, a giant be would actually be pretty interesting!
“The existential crisis of the artist, the post-modern breakdown of society”… loved it!
“It’s a giant bee! And you’re an idiot,” … and I loved that, too
great creative take. Randy
Thanks, Randy! Glad you liked it.
haha “It’s a giant bee! And you’re an idiot,” i would love to be able to say something like that to someone! ^^ ^^ really enjoyed this
I was going to say that your last line was the one that got me, but in the end, it was actually your “It’s a chair” comment that stole the day!
Haha! I’ll take it—a giant bee is rather more interesting than a chair, but I wanted it to have the same effect. Thanks for reading!
You reminded me that I was going to do a piece called ‘The Sentimental Artist’. I then literally forgot all about it and did what I did instead. But you would’ve appreciated it. I’m an artist myself but I hear what you say.
I definitely don’t mean to disparage art—modern or otherwise—more the people that pretend they know what the artist’s intentions were for a piece. It’s the same thing when people analyze literature and have no idea what they’re talking about.
Dear Wanderer,
Loving the mumbo jumbo. Great story. Can I buy her a drink.
Aloha,
Doug
Doug,
Glad you liked it! I’m sure she needs a drink after that date!
I like the idea of idiots and art. There is a wonderful expression about modern art: I could do that= yeah but you didn’t.
That’s a good point! I guess who the real idiot in this piece is could also be in the eye of the beholder! Maybe Sienna doesn’t get art!
Hahaha! I like this one. Like Freud said, “Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.” Good story!
Very true! Thanks, Kent!
One person’s art is another person’s idiocy. We’ve all been there. Good human interaction. Ron
Excellent point. Thanks, Ron!
I wonder if he’ll call her to see if she’ll go out with him again…he may not have seen the writing on the wall.
And who knows—maybe she’ll give him a second chance! He might not even have noticed she left, though.
that’s a great critique on art. I guess intelligence is in the eye of the beholder.
It’s like you were a fly on the wall for most of my dates.(pun intended)
Oh gosh! Sorry to hear that haha. At least you probably have some good stories!