Inconceivable: Main Man Clement Greenberg Confusing Audiences Again (Blog #9)

Pre-Context Notes + Ranting Slightly:

Art criticism (Most of The Time) = Confusing Jargon ... In my opinion (but I think many would agree)

Reading Alix Rule & David Levine's publication on 'International Art English, ' made me realize just how common it is to feel the confusion that art writing can make the public feel. Especially, when the art world, or as they say in the paper, the art industry, is supposed to be written for the public without any prior knowledge of many of the words or connections these creators connect to. 

In writing this blog, it was hard to place a certain art reviewer on trial. Since, many of the publications I have read in the past and recently have confused me and forced me to read them at least 4 or 5 times before vaguely understanding the meaning or context of what they were writing about.

But I have to give a shout-out to Clement Greenberg, who is most known in the art world. But also the most quoted as being jumbled up words that do not connect together to the audience. 

The essay that I take from is his piece of Cezanne, an eight-page essay on the artist himself, his aesthetic, and the changes he made to modernist painting. 

Quotes: 

- "He was making the first pondered and conscious attempt to save the key principle of Western painting concern for an ample and literal rendition of stereometric space the effects of Impressionist color. " (pg. 50)

- "The Eye was to be Led through a rhythmically organized system of convexities and concavities in which manifold gradations of dark and light, indicating recession and salience, were marshaled around points of interest." (pg. 51)

-  "Cezanne was one of the most intelligent painters about painting whose observations have been recorded." (pg. 53)

Reactions, Notes, and Thoughts to the Essay: 

- Coming from myself I have admired Cezanne's work, the observations are bold and colorful yet simplified (see it is that easy to use simple words to describe an artist, take that Greenberg)

- Maybe I am lacking in brain power while reading this essay and these quotes are as clear as day to the average Joe (I am still utterly confused and react in frustration for my lack of comprehension here)

- There have been many papers where I have understood them and reacted in satisfaction as I can explain to a friend. Greenberg has not allowed me to create discourse among peers because I believe I would confuse them more or lead them astray. 

(Tried Something different with this Blog)

Source:

https://monoskop.org/images/1/12/Greenberg_Clement_Art_and_Culture_Critical_Essays_1965.pdf