The Time-Travelling Art Critic: Modern Art

Be Careful What You Wish For (2001)

2001

Too many of these artist people take things so seriously. So I said to myself, "I hope the next artist I meet is somebody really funny." Next thing you knew, I was in the middle of an episode of The Fairly OddParents. I never thought anyone's ears could be below their chin, but I suppose there's nothing wrong with being able to hear the crickets better. Thanks Butch Hartman!

'Tis A Time For Computer-Generated Graphics (1995-1996) (2)

1995-1996

No longer do 3-D images have to be stagnant, nor do vast landscapes have to be the subject matter for painting.

The release of Toy Story and Super Mario 64 in consecutive years marks these two points.

Anton Corbijn for the Win (1987)

1987

Note to self: don't walk through dry, expansive, epic-looking environment without being on alert, especially if everything is all black and white, or you might end up getting in the way of one of Anton Corbijn's shots.

Today I was just nonchalantly walking through the desert in Arizona, when I ran into a pretty weird-looking tree. I ended up in the background of a shot for the cover of U2's The Joshua Tree that was otherwise perfect. See how pissed they all look in the take they shot after I got out of the way?

As it turns out, Corbijn is basically a music imagery guru, and his work is always stark, pure, and minimalistic--not much use of special effects. Pretty awesome if you ask me.

So Simple Yet So Mindblowing (1980)

1980

After years and years of striving for paintings that have high fidelity to their subjects, this is what captivates a nation? Indistinguishable, monochromatic, sexless forms?

And yet it's easier to understand why. They're pretty identifiable, after all.

Keith Haring. Genius.