Biggest Difference Between Bad Art and Great Art by UCLA Professor Richard Walter

Film Courage2 minutes read

Richard Walter stresses the importance of avoiding boredom in various art forms like movies, screeners, and literature, pointing out the prevalence of forgettable contemporary art. He discusses the impact of truly great art, like "Breaking Bad" and "The Sopranos," in transforming lives, aiming for art to have a profound, life-changing effect.

Insights

  • Richard Walter stresses the importance of avoiding boredom in various art forms, including movies, screeners, paintings, sculpture, literature, and music, highlighting the significance of maintaining engagement throughout the artistic experience.
  • He discusses the prevalence of forgettable contemporary art pieces, noting that only a small fraction endures the test of time, contrasting the enduring impact of truly great art like "Breaking Bad" and "The Sopranos," emphasizing the transformative potential of exceptional artistic works.

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Recent questions

  • How does Richard Walter view the importance of avoiding boredom in art?

    Richard Walter emphasizes the significance of not being boring in art from the beginning to the end. He stresses the need to steer clear of boredom in various art forms like movies, screeners, paintings, sculpture, literature, and music.

  • What does Richard Walter mention about bad contemporary art?

    Richard Walter mentions that while some contemporary art pieces are brilliant, many are forgettable. He notes that only a fraction of contemporary art stands the test of time, as evidenced by museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

  • Why does Richard Walter suggest that film and television often lack a filtering process?

    Richard Walter suggests that film and television often lack a filtering process due to their contemporary nature. This absence of filtration leads to a perception of uniqueness in the bad quality of these art forms, despite historical art also having its share of poor works.

  • How does Richard Walter describe his personal experiences with engaging with art?

    Richard Walter describes spending minimal time with famous paintings like the Mona Lisa. He also highlights the transformative impact of truly great art like "Breaking Bad" and "The Sopranos" in people's lives, aiming for art to have a profound, life-changing effect.

  • What is the ultimate goal of art according to Richard Walter?

    According to Richard Walter, the ultimate goal of art is to have a profound, life-changing effect. He emphasizes the importance of art in transforming lives and highlights the impact of great art like "Breaking Bad" and "The Sopranos" in achieving this goal.

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Summary

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Avoid Boredom: The Essence of Art

  • Richard Walter emphasizes that the rule of not being boring in art applies from the beginning to the end, highlighting the importance of avoiding boredom in movies, screeners, paintings, sculpture, literature, and music.
  • He discusses the prevalence of bad contemporary art, noting that while some pieces are brilliant, many are forgettable, with only a fraction standing the test of time, as seen in museums like the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
  • Walter explains that film and television, due to their contemporary nature, often lack the filtering process that other art forms undergo, leading to a perception of uniqueness in their bad quality, despite historical art also having its share of poor works.
  • He shares personal experiences of engaging with art, such as spending minimal time with famous paintings like the Mona Lisa, and highlights the impact of truly great art like "Breaking Bad" and "The Sopranos" in transforming lives, aiming for art to have a profound, life-changing effect.
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