Why/How is art rock pretentious?

The Batlord · 12-06-2015, 06:35 PM

The way I see it, when someone (whether it be the artist, fans, and/or critics) calls something "art rock" it often comes across as a self-conscious and egotistical attempt to distance the music from mainstream "non-arty" music. I mean, there isn't a genre of art called "art painting". It's just art. Music is likewise just art -- even though a lot of people don't think of it that way -- and the kind of people who would use the term "art rock" are aware of this, so their using it just seems redundant and desperate.

That is not at all a criticism of the music itself of course, or even the tastes and opinions of people who call something "art rock", just my general impression of why they and the genre are seen as pretentious. It's not like I care about doing away with the term, and I use it myself, as it is a recognized genre name that describes certain bands who might otherwise be hard to categorize (not that "art rock" is a particularly useful description of a band's sound, but it's better than nothing).

grindy · 12-06-2015, 06:41 PM

Pretty sure it wasn't invented by the musicians themselves. Not to mention that a lot of bands are reluctant to label themselves.
It's one of the 'blurrier' genres anyway, don't think I've ever had to use the term when talking about music.

Tristan_Geoff · 12-06-2015, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grindy

Pretty sure it wasn't invented by the musicians themselves. Not to mention that a lot of bands are reluctant to label themselves.
It's one of the 'blurrier' genres anyway, don't think I've ever had to use the term when talking about music.

Not sure how I feel about the term, I've used it a couple times to refer to more forward thinking artists but there are certinly better terms to use.

The Batlord · 12-06-2015, 06:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grindy

Pretty sure it wasn't invented by the musicians themselves. Not to mention that a lot of bands are reluctant to label themselves.
It's one of the 'blurrier' genres anyway, don't think I've ever had to use the term when talking about music.

Which is why I said artists, fans, and critics. I really don't know who coined the term, or who decides what bands qualify, but its application still comes across as a self-conscious attempt to legitimize an artist. Do you really need to call Brian Eno "art rock" to get across how arty or experimental he is?

Black Francis · 12-06-2015, 06:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grindy

If you don't see the beauty, skill, effort and purpose in a work of art or music, but the artist and fans act like they do, you feel like they are idiots pretending that there is something where you're sure there isn't. Hence the perceived pretentiousness.
I don't think anything has to be done. Nothing is dying. Artists will always create, some people will always appreciate it. Different strokes for different folks.

Right, it's like the defense mechanism of the ignorant. it's kinda like insulting someone who knows more than you by calling them a geek or a nerd. i'd love to say im above such labels but frankly im not, just like everybody else i use them to my convenience.

RoxyRollah · 12-06-2015, 07:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by The Batlord

The way I see it, when someone (whether it be the artist, fans, and/or critics) calls something "art rock" it often comes across as a self-conscious and egotistical attempt to distance the music from mainstream "non-arty" music. I mean, there isn't a genre of art called "art painting". It's just art. Music is likewise just art -- even though a lot of people don't think of it that way -- and the kind of people who would use the term "art rock" are aware of this, so their using it just seems redundant and desperate.

That is not at all a criticism of the music itself of course, or even the tastes and opinions of people who call something "art rock", just my general impression of why they and the genre are seen as pretentious. It's not like I care about doing away with the term, and I use it myself, as it is a recognized genre name that describes certain bands who might otherwise be hard to categorize (not that "art rock" is a particularly useful description of a band's sound, but it's better than nothing).

Your last record sucked.

The Batlord · 12-06-2015, 07:03 PM

k

Noisy Neighbor · 12-06-2015, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RoxyRollah

But back to the pope man....A solid 3:16

this pope has a strange ego

RoxyRollah · 12-06-2015, 07:07 PM

Not as bad as the nazi....

RoxyRollah · 12-06-2015, 09:17 PM

.

12-06-2015, 06:41 PM	#12 (permalink)
grindy . Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: . Posts: 7,201	Pretty sure it wasn't invented by the musicians themselves. Not to mention that a lot of bands are reluctant to label themselves. It's one of the 'blurrier' genres anyway, don't think I've ever had to use the term when talking about music. __________________ *A smell of petroleum prevails throughout.*