Pretentious ... Or Not (great song, reviews, career, classic, artists)

Urban Hat€monger ? · 06-12-2008, 06:42 PM

In a new weekly series I shall be asking the question , Pretentious ...or not.

It's quite simple , I offer an example of something that may or may not be pretentious all you have to do is give your reasons as to which it might be.

First up for discussion David Bowie's Ashes To Ashes video. A stunning peice of visual expressionism or a load of up it's own arse 1980s video bollocks?

jackhammer · 06-12-2008, 06:48 PM

I just like the song FFS. Up The Hill Backwards is better though.

Son of JayJamJah · 06-12-2008, 07:33 PM

Urban appears to have hopped off the meds today

I also look forward to this series. Although my baited breath is mostly reserved for 100 best recorder songs

NSW · 06-12-2008, 10:09 PM

I'll admit I'm not all that familiar with Bowie's career as a whole, I just know the few songs I like. But it seems that this video is just another part of Bowie's oddness and style.
I guess what I'm trying to say is that if anyone else made it, I might say yes, but because I feel it's classic Bowie-ness, and we're not arguing whether he himself is pretentious, but this specific video, I would say no.
So there.

Piss Me Off · 06-13-2008, 05:17 AM

I'm going to go with a resounding yes. The complete lack of sense or plot, little 'arty' features and touches that would do Warhol proud make me think he just wanted it to be talked about for years to come, and it worked. I don't mind it as a video, but i'm sure there's pretention there.
Great song though.

Rainard Jalen · 06-13-2008, 06:04 AM

The problem with this is that something can be a "stunning peice of visual expressionism" or a great work of art and so on, and still be up-yer-arse pretentious at the same time.

I think high art in general is through-and-through pretentious and that artists are the most pretentious types of human being. That doesn't detract from the value, though.

boo boo · 06-13-2008, 06:08 AM

It sure as hell ain't cohesive, and though I love surrealism, it dosen't seem like that's what he was going for.

But yeah, I think it's rather stupid, and that outfit he's wearing, it's like he stole it from Peter Gabriel's closet.

More important, I believe all art is pretentious, since it requires the artist to have at least some self worth to want to make it.

Any product that tries to go beyond mere entertainment is somewhat pretentious.

joderu95 · 06-13-2008, 10:38 AM

Are any MB reviews going to be included?

mamanuthead · 06-13-2008, 10:58 AM

I also believe there is a certain amount of pretention in art. That is what makes it unique to the individual. It doesn't make me enjoy it any more or less. David Bowie has always been eccentric and this video is just another example of that. I like it!

Son of JayJamJah · 06-13-2008, 07:15 PM

pretentiousness in art is not necessarily a bad thing. It's very subjective.

View Poll Results: David Bowie's Ashes To Ashes Video
Pretentious	4	40.00%
Not	6	60.00%
Voters: 10. You may not vote on this poll

06-12-2008, 06:42 PM	#1 (permalink)
Urban Hat€monger ? The Sexual Intellectual Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Somewhere cooler than you Posts: 18,605	Pretentious ... Or Not In a new weekly series I shall be asking the question , Pretentious ...or not. It's quite simple , I offer an example of something that may or may not be pretentious all you have to do is give your reasons as to which it might be. First up for discussion David Bowie's Ashes To Ashes video. A stunning peice of visual expressionism or a load of up it's own arse 1980s video bollocks? __________________ Urb's RYM Stuff Most people sell their soul to the devil, but the devil sells his soul to Nick Cave.

06-12-2008, 06:48 PM	#2 (permalink)
jackhammer Ba and Be. Join Date: May 2007 Location: This Is England Posts: 17,331	I just like the song FFS. Up The Hill Backwards is better though. __________________ It be my music and film collection. “A cynic by experience, a romantic by inclination and now a hero by necessity.”

06-12-2008, 10:09 PM	#4 (permalink)
NSW Bigger and Better Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Texas girl living in the UK Posts: 2,596	I'll admit I'm not all that familiar with Bowie's career as a whole, I just know the few songs I like. But it seems that this video is just another part of Bowie's oddness and style. I guess what I'm trying to say is that if anyone else made it, I might say yes, but because I feel it's classic Bowie-ness, and we're not arguing whether he himself is pretentious, but this specific video, I would say no. So there. __________________ Hi.

06-13-2008, 05:17 AM	#5 (permalink)
Piss Me Off Moodswings n' Roundabouts Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: At the corner of Dude and Catastrophe Posts: 4,512	I'm going to go with a resounding yes. The complete lack of sense or plot, little 'arty' features and touches that would do Warhol proud make me think he just wanted it to be talked about for years to come, and it worked. I don't mind it as a video, but i'm sure there's pretention there. Great song though. __________________ Last FM Rate Yr Music Muxtape

06-12-2008, 07:33 PM	#3 (permalink)
Son of JayJamJah Occams Razor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: End of the Earth Posts: 2,472	Urban appears to have hopped off the meds today I also look forward to this series. Although my baited breath is mostly reserved for 100 best recorder songs

06-13-2008, 06:04 AM	#6 (permalink)
Rainard Jalen Music Addict Join Date: Aug 2006 Posts: 2,221	The problem with this is that something can be a "stunning peice of visual expressionism" or a great work of art and so on, and still be up-yer-arse pretentious at the same time. I think high art in general is through-and-through pretentious and that artists are the most pretentious types of human being. That doesn't detract from the value, though.

06-13-2008, 10:38 AM	#8 (permalink)
joderu95 Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Washington Posts: 93	Are any MB reviews going to be included? __________________ Did you exchange a walk on part in the war for a lead role in a cage? ~Pink Floyd

06-13-2008, 10:58 AM	#9 (permalink)
mamanuthead Music Addict Join Date: May 2008 Location: Vegas Baby! Posts: 94	I also believe there is a certain amount of pretention in art. That is what makes it unique to the individual. It doesn't make me enjoy it any more or less. David Bowie has always been eccentric and this video is just another example of that. I like it! __________________ A true rock star knows how to please a crowd with just one stroke of his instrument.

06-13-2008, 07:15 PM	#10 (permalink)
Son of JayJamJah Occams Razor Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: End of the Earth Posts: 2,472	pretentiousness in art is not necessarily a bad thing. It's very subjective.