Photos
Do you guys know about PaperRad? If you don’t know about PaperRad, you should definitely know about PaperRad. They’re a loose-knit art collective that works in garishly bright colors and amateur-ish looking cartoons. They’re also super-influential. I’m not an art scientist, but I would say they are largely responsible for the pop cultural aesthetic of the past 10 years. “What does that even mean? That sounds made up!” I SAID I’M NOT AN ART SCIENTIST, GET OFF MY BACK. The overall point is that these guys are for real, like a real thing that is great but also important. And now they’ve made a web series about an adventure team that has adventures and is a team called The Problem Solverz. It’s kind of like something you’d see on Adult Swim, actually, if you were to HANG ADULT SWIM IN A MUSEUM. (Also: Adult Swim is EXACTLY the type of cultural aesthetic that I am talking about when I say that PaperRad defined the cultural aesthetic.) Anyway, It’s great! Watch it:
Art! Appreciate it! (Via Neatorama.)
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“They’re also super-influential. I’m not an art scientist, but I would say they are largely responsible for the pop cultural aesthetic of the past 10 years.”
Someone call a medium. Gabe’s been possessed by the ghost of Judy Funnie.
Actually I was thinking Jane Lane.
Little known fact: The Arcade Fire cites the Beets as their strongest influence.
We’re long overdue for a cover of “Think Big (Bangin’ On a Trash Can)”
My God, I just had a cartoon flashback. I loved that frickin’ song!
Look at this baby hipster!
Little known fact: “notsewfast” is a liar
littlewell known fact: “notsewfast” is a liarwait if you’re a liar and you say you’re a liar then the statement is false and what you say is true. and we go in a loop that goes on forever
Good lord, even the still frame hurts my eyes. That amount of bright colors conflicts too much with my bleak outlook on life.
It’s like I’m always telling people: Robots and dinosaurs are the bomb.
Nope
PaperRad post
FIIIIIIIIRRSTT!!!111!!
????????
CEASE AND DESIST!!!111!
-Steve Winwood
It’s pretty. (No…it’s not.)
How do you solve a problem like Modern Art?
The hills are alive with Modern Art
Climb Ev’ry Modern Art
Edel-Fischli/Weiss
Sometimes, on Videogum, I don’t even know what I’m talking about anymore.
Pop Art and Art Brut and Minimalism
Dada and Bauhaus and Surrealism
Lyrical Abstraction and Hard-edge Painting
These are a few of my favorite things
When the critics bite, when their words sting, when I’m feeling sad
I simply remember my favorite things, and then I don’t feel so bad
Are they responsible for this too?
There’s your answer, Fishbulb.
Very popular dish detergent.
I AM DISRESPECTFUL TO DIRT AND GRIME!!!
Stuff like this makes it really difficult to explain to people why I decided to be an art history student.
It should make it really easy…
I looooooove art. Hey, art major here. BUT, I never understood modern art. If you have to explain to me why what it is you’ve made is art, then by golly, it is NOT art. I’m much more of an “Oh my god that’s gorgeous!” kind of art enthusiast.
Completely agree. Appreciation for Capital M Modern Art comes more from a cultural/sociological place. Koons is no Munch. ANYWAY…
I agree with you insofar as Koons doesn’t have as much traditional, “technical” skill as Munch, but there’s a beauty to both. I had in mind someone like Damien Hirst, with the sharks and all…
its the “concept” which is the art which is fine to a point but it gets kinda trite and boring after a while. only so much joseph beuys essay material you can read before you go “I just want to look at some purty rustic anselm kiefer shit, yo” and then there you go again
That’s basically the problem with our entire Post-Modern culture.
“Oh, I see, you’ve remixed a remix of a mashup of something that was made 5 years ago. Very cool. Very art. Can’t wait to see this remixed.” SNOOOOOOOOOOOZZZZZEEEEE
That’s basically the problem with our entire Post-Modern culture.
“Oh, I see, you’ve remixed a remix of a mashup of something that was made 5 years ago. Very cool. Very art. Can’t wait to see this remixed.” SNOOOOOOOOOOOZZZZZEEEEE
When I get asked what I study and reply “art history,” people immediately question me and want me to “prove” why modern art is art. They never ask me anything else, ever, even though art history covers a lot of stuff and modern up makes up but a small area of it. In fact, they’re not even really “asking” me, just giving me their unprompted opinion. “It’s not art if I/my baby brother/my kid could do it!” “Abstract art isn’t art!” etc.
I like a lot of modern art, in most cases, but the public idea of what it is just makes me not what to talk about it anymore, because no one really wants to listen. Guess that means I’m not as dedicated to art as I should be… I dunno!
This. The number of times I’ve just backed down from a conversation because I know I will only end up infuriated is ridiculous, especially this year when my studies shifted from Modern Art to Contemporary Art. Don’t ask me to ‘discuss’ works with you if you actually just want to throw out ridiculous generalisations.
On the other hand: Art History Gum! Let’s paint, exercise and debate things!
I’m actually joint majoring in History and Art History, just to try and get maximum pretension potential out of my degree. The Art History part is always the one people want to pick at, though. When you say plain old “History” everyone immediately assumes you want to be a high school teacher and nothing else (because what else is there? Haha, history.)
A few more people and we could almost get a full class going, as inevitably small as they always are. We just need a guy who constantly interprets everything as religious criticism regardless of the actual subject matter and we’re set!
As a fellow Art Historian, i commiserate – I consider Art History to be glorified bullshitting in 70% of all articles/books/studies, and since I’m also interested in modern/contemporary art, it’s really hard to fend off even the cheapest of blows/attacks on my field of interest.
I like many kinds of art, but have generally had issues with video art (although, I really enjoyed this.) The thing that always strikes me is the low production values in so much video art. I never understand why if Brokencyde can make a video that looks decent, someone showing in a gallery cannot.
It’s at least nice to know I’m not alone!
Honestly world, I don’t need you to constantly remind me my degree is pointless, it does the job well enough on its own already.
Operation Watch This MORE:
http://www.ubu.com/film/trecartin_kcorea.html
If you want to make a full-on web series based on a garishly-coloured, poorly animated but hugely influential video, I have the perfect candidate:
Is Alfe supposed to look like a piece of crap?
I’m so ashamed I made it far enough in to learn their names…
I love PaperRad. This DVD is really good:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6EOVBQ9002E
Also excellent is their contribution to Load Records’ Pick A Winner compilation, a song called My Favourite Homepage:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJoP4MkTnwQ
I like D-O-G’s Jandek-esque tune:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7HPWf51oUQ
Oh man, Jandek! He’s playing a show in LA in January with Mike Watt and the guy from HEALTH on drums. Any LA monsters should absolutely be going to that show.
Good post, Gabe Dellywitz. You should also look up some o that Kramers Ergot and read up on the legacy of Fort Thunder if you actually want more of this type o noise, G. G UNIT! That’s your new name
Steve, if you like Kramers Ergot, you should check out Theo Ellsworth (if you haven’t already). Plug!
thanks for the reminder I’ve seen that shit before and have always liked it and enjoyed it
Yes! Excellent plug!
Matt Furie anyone?
hells yes prof. push up
Whoa Fort Thunder references from Steve Winwood.
Somebody’s from providence, and/or has been to art school.
KIDZ KORNER. But not.
But yes.
Well said cat, you’re like a miniature buddha covered in fur
no plagiarismo Adam McKay
CEASE AND DESIST!
-Adam McKay
DEASE AND CESIST!
– Adam McKay’s Dyslexic Lawyer
AH AH AH AH AH!
-Adam McKay’s Dyslexic Lawyer, reading this
btw, I really hope “(Blank’s) Dyslexic Lawyer” becomes a meme here. And I hope Mans really runs with it. Operation Meme This- Commence!
It should be Dylsexic Lwayer
I’m on board for making this happen.
I cannot tell you what this looks like with no sound.
“Slaves with chains on their brains.” Is that a Dylan lyric? That sounds like a Dylan lyric. “Bob Dylan: The Lost Lyrics”
“I would say they are largely responsible for the pop cultural aesthetic of the past 10 years”
Perhaps Liz Lemon would prefer these Problem Solvers:
I took an entry-level modern art course my sophomore year of college, so I get it.
Who is the lady voice? It’s crazy familiar, but I can’t place it.
Donna Darko.
WARNING! The group making this video is actually a group of pedophiles. they’re doing it because kids like cartoons. It has nothing to do with solving problemz. it was on a TV show that warns you about internet frauds. Its on tonight’s news. Pass this onto everyone who watches internet videos about solving problemz.
michael jackson’s not in this video! that’s ignorant…
I’m ignorant??? You’re the one who refuses to change your avatar to your favorite childhood breakfast cereal to show your brave stance against dropping nukes on orphans.
SHAME!
???????????
It’s a facebook thing, Mr. Winwood.
Worth noting that Adult Swim passed up an earlier (and hilarious) Paper Rad show for a much worse show that their viewers voted on. Booooo.
RUSTBELT FOREVER!
* Just excited about a Paper Rad post being from Pittsburgh and all.
Also, not telling any team how to do its job, but if the ice cream was really “mind control ice cream,” wouldn’t the problem have been better solved by letting the robot-dinosaur bomb go off?
I have epilepsy now.
I caught a bad case of the 1990s.
There’s pizza energy everywhere.
You know whats great about insanity? Its SHUT UP STOP MAKING FUN OF MY STUPID DANCES!
This reminds me (a little bit) of Fernand Leger, so I dig it. Now excuse me while I go choke on red wine and my own sense of self worth. ART!!!!!!!
This is physics!
MODERN ART
MAKES ME
WANNA ROCK OUT
The student or practitioner of art, before becoming an artist, is simply a child without occupation. That child is exposed to art as entertainment (such as cartoons and comics) either before or simultaneously being exposed to art as masterwork.
To deny that art as entertainment had an influence, the art student or practitioner creates disingenuously. Not that this is verboten, as purposely disingenuous creation is often a meta-statement on the process or product of artistic endeavor itself, and may expose that any work of art is more commercial than personal. Most artists, though, find an unending wellspring of inspiration if they draw from memory, experience, environment, and study. For modern (post-modern, post-post-modern, etc…) commercialized, mass-media entertainment is an undeniable part of their world, and becomes more grist for the mill.
This is, in part, an explanation for movements such as Low-Brow and Pop Surrealism. No influence, despite its source or intent, is shunned; all combination of images and palettes, no matter how unlikely, are uncanny; and this may induce a feeling of “shock” in audiences and critics.
This is how I defend my enjoyment of Problem Solverz while understanding that other people may not like it.
I sure loved paperrad in 2005
Thanks for letting me know who’s responsible for an aesthetic I’ve always hated. Now I know who to hate.
And here I always thought it was Adult Swim.