Aaron

not a big fan of nirvanna but can't deny kurt kobaine (sp?) was a truely morbid artist.

Geshtinnanna

True. But I think part of that was his severe stomach illness that had him in constant pain. Thinking back there were many artist who were ill either mentally or physically who would be also considered morbid too.

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lauraclay

Van Gogh's life was as twisted as anyone else's, almost, and he has some happy paintings.

Geshtinnanna

On the other side of this: Robert Smith from the Cure writes some of the most morbid depressing music. And the man is pretty happy in real life.

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lauraclay

I think it all goes back to being realistic and well-rounded. I think art should reflect all sides of life. All feelings, emotions, experiences. Whatever the artists feels needs to be said at the moment.

TPBlodgett

Indeed, this no more clear to me then DMB, on the album Before These Crowded Streets, there is a song titled Halloween, about how love is hell and stuff like that, then 5 songs later is a song called Pig, its about how love will save us all.
Very different sides of the spectrum all in on album..i love it.

lauraclay

Am I the only person in the world who doesn't absolutely love DMB? I mean, I don't dislike them, I just don't like a lot of them. And I don't think they're the greatest band ever.

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The purpose of a fish trap is to catch fish,
and when the fish are caught, the trap is forgotten.

The purpose of a rabbit snare is to catch rabbits.
When the rabbits are caught, the snare is forgotten.

The purpose of words is to convey ideas.
When the ideas are grasped, the words are forgotten.

Where can I find a man who has forgotten words?
He is the one I would like to talk to.

TPBlodgett

A lot of people dont like them that much, but they are one of my favorite bands personally and I have been listening to them for quite some time, and talent wise, I would honestly say they are probably one of, if not the most talented "mainstream" band there is.

but I can understand a lot of people dont like them, its all perspective.

lauraclay

Oh, I like them, don't get me wrong. I just don't understand everyone's obsession. Maybe you should move up here, everyone loves them.

__________________

The purpose of a fish trap is to catch fish,
and when the fish are caught, the trap is forgotten.

The purpose of a rabbit snare is to catch rabbits.
When the rabbits are caught, the snare is forgotten.

The purpose of words is to convey ideas.
When the ideas are grasped, the words are forgotten.

Where can I find a man who has forgotten words?
He is the one I would like to talk to.

granpa

Yes I agree with this completely.

If anything Art isn't "morbid" enough. There is so much external control weighing on artists that most of which they wish to convey and portrait is "censored" toned down to avoid offending the values of different people.

Nonetheless art is simply a reflection of your mind and inner state regardless of what emotion that may be and so joyous work is art as well. I disagree this is a modern phenomena though, look back at Greek, Spartan Art, look at Middle Age English art, rennessiance and Gothic art, they all revolved around the idea's of "trial" of striving to reach for something unreachable, of death and of the unknown. Most people/artists reflect more when they are in pain or some adverse emotion because it allows them to verbalize it, materialize it to make it something more understandable. Joy and happyness is something easier to comprehend because it is a blissful state usually caused by something very tangible, understandable. There is less need to reflect on the meaning of it.