Tampon in a Teacup
November 4, 2007 - By Bobby Solomon - Category: Comic Books & Films
When I posted last week about Tobias Wong’s ccPhone, it made me think of the movie Ghost World. The scene I kept thinking of is when Enid is in her summer school art class, and oneof her fellow classmates brings in a project and presents it to the class. Her piece is a tampon, in a teacup, which the girl says is her, “response to the issue of a woman’s right to choose… it’s something I feel super-strongly about.”
Daniel Clowes, the writer of both the comic book and the movie, obviously understands the concept of bullshit. A tampon in a tea cup or an iPhone painted black, either way it’s not art, it’s a half-ass attempt at someone telling you you’re a visionary.
Bobby
Comments
If you've got something to say, keep it positive.i thought i was the only person who saw this movie! whenever i mention that scene to people noone has ever heard of ghost world :’(
i can’t say i totally agree with you on this one Bobby.
While i see where you are coming from this type of art is so posed to get people angry and confused. Doesn’t it make you ask the question “What is Art?” I know painting the rims of an iphone seems like nothing much and i agree, but this scene in Ghost World i think doesn’t serve your argument fully. What i really like about 8 Ball’s work is that they make a form of art seem really cheesy and lame while trying to remind you that art is very objective. Especially in the scene of Ghost world where people are harshly judging the caricature of the black face at the art show. I mean you have every right to denounce someone’s artwork, but that doesn’t make your opinion true or factual. Well i’m sure you realize that. I just don’t feel the need to slap a bullshitter on this one although right now Wong seems really lame for getting away with this haha. But anyways this post made me want to check out art school confidential and ghost world again.
Wrong art project… the art piece that the sycophant girl uses that explanation with is the wire hanger sculpture. Her tea cup piece was supposed to “confront people” with this “shocking image” of “repressed femininity.” I’ve seen the movie way too many times, but art IS in fact completely subjective and whether something is considered “art” or not is entirely up to the viewer. Personally, I think the tampon in a teacup, while extremely hilarious, is not something I’d consider “serious art” as the art teacher says in the film…