# Acknowledged greats in the Arts that you "don't get" **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 2, 2014, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acknowledged-greats-in-the-arts-that-you-dont-get/680367 "2014-02-02T19:01:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acknowledged-greats-in-the-arts-that-you-dont-get/680367/1 "2014-02-02T19:01:24Z")
I think we’ve done this before, but here we (I) go again: Are there universally recognized Artists they you personally can’t stand, or at least have no appreciation for? My list: Singer: Billy Holiday. Just can’t get past the pickananny voice. Musician/Band\*: Grateful Dead. This category I struggled with because there are many genres I’m not into, or don’t understand (e.g. Rap). But the GD got my vote for their uninspired musicianship/production and sloppy vocal harmonies. I hear a garage band when they play. Composer: Schumann. Usually slotted in the top 10, I would be hard pressed to include him in my top 30. Especially his piano works (I love Chopin) and symphony’s, both of which I find painful to listen to. Artist: Picasso. I find his works cold, inhuman and disturbing – which can be what the artist intends, but it seems “built-in” to Picasso’s style. YMMV of course! - from here: [http://rateyourmusic.com/list/jimmaaaa/100\_greatest\_musicians\_ever\_/4/](http://rateyourmusic.com/list/jimmaaaa/100_greatest_musicians_ever_/4/) ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acknowledged-greats-in-the-arts-that-you-dont-get/680367/2 "2014-02-02T19:15:34Z")
The Stones. I could name many others, in all the arts, but the Stones are in a class of their own. I don’t know how anyone seriously compares them to the Beatles. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acknowledged-greats-in-the-arts-that-you-dont-get/680367/3 "2014-02-02T19:44:22Z")
Pollock, Rothko, de Koonig, and the rest of the abstract expressionists - I’m just not seeing it. ---
**Author:** ![Slithy\_Tove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slithy_tove/32/18248_2.png) [@Slithy\_Tove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slithy_Tove)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 7:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acknowledged-greats-in-the-arts-that-you-dont-get/680367/4 "2014-02-02T19:46:44Z")
Cy Twombly. Liked by a great many artists whom I do like, so it must just be me. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acknowledged-greats-in-the-arts-that-you-dont-get/680367/5 "2014-02-02T20:08:39Z")
> [@panache45](#): > > The Stones. I could name many others, in all the arts, but the Stones are in a class of their own. I don’t know how anyone seriously compares them to the Beatles. I wonder what would happen if some band decided to call itself The Stones - just “The Stones”. 😛 Tom Cruise is the first “huh?” actor that comes to mind. As for musicians, too many to name. ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acknowledged-greats-in-the-arts-that-you-dont-get/680367/6 "2014-02-02T20:12:33Z")
> [@K364](#): > > Singer: Billy Holiday. Just can’t get past the pickananny voice. I’m reasonably sure that “pickaninny” is a pretty offensive word these days. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acknowledged-greats-in-the-arts-that-you-dont-get/680367/7 "2014-02-02T20:13:00Z")
> [@K364](#): > > Singer: Billy Holiday. Just can’t get past the pickananny voice. I’m not sure if you’re aware, but “pickaninny” is a racial slur (I’m not sure what “pickananny” is or means). Could you explain what you mean by this? ---
**Author:** ![Sateryn76](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e4f/32.png) [@Sateryn76](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sateryn76)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acknowledged-greats-in-the-arts-that-you-dont-get/680367/8 "2014-02-02T20:17:33Z")
David Bowie. I just don’t get him, but I respect him. But Springsteen. Yuck. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acknowledged-greats-in-the-arts-that-you-dont-get/680367/9 "2014-02-02T20:21:40Z")
Eminem. Universal critical praise, whether sincere or not. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acknowledged-greats-in-the-arts-that-you-dont-get/680367/10 "2014-02-02T20:38:00Z")
Stephen Sondheim. I will agree he may be Broadway’s best lyricist ever, but except for a few exceptions\* he’s a formulaic and unmemorable songwriter. He’s too much interested in his lyrics and the songs suffer and usually follow the same pattern. Many of his musicals, OTOH, are just fine and I kind of wonder how great he would have been if he had been willing to work with a first-class composer. \*“Comedy Tonight,” “Send in the Clowns,” and “Everybody Ought to Have a Maid” and a couple of songs from **Company** come to mind. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acknowledged-greats-in-the-arts-that-you-dont-get/680367/11 "2014-02-02T21:00:36Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > I’m not sure if you’re aware, but “pickaninny” is a racial slur (I’m not sure what “pickananny” is or means). Could you explain what you mean by this? Whoops, sorry. I see that Wiki says that it is now considered “derogatory”… hopefully more like “hick” or “cracker” or “hillbilly” and not like “nigger”. What would you use to describe her vocal inflections? To me they sound like not only the Deep South, but a whining child of the Deep South. Which is surprising considering how her career ended quite worldly. ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 9:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acknowledged-greats-in-the-arts-that-you-dont-get/680367/12 "2014-02-02T21:05:45Z")
> [@K364](#): > > Whoops, sorry. I see that Wiki says that it is now considered “derogatory”… hopefully more like “hick” or “cracker” or “hillbilly” and not like “nigger”. Probably not like “nigger”, but it is a racial slur against black people. I’d say it’s definitely worse than “hick” and “cracker”. > [@](#): > > What would you use to describe her vocal inflections? To me they sound like not only the Deep South, but a whining child of the Deep South. Which is surprising considering how her career ended quite worldly. It’s funny, because I find her voice quite feminine and mature (and beautiful). Certainly not whiny, IMO. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 9:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acknowledged-greats-in-the-arts-that-you-dont-get/680367/13 "2014-02-02T21:09:02Z")
Miles Davis. And I like jazz. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acknowledged-greats-in-the-arts-that-you-dont-get/680367/14 "2014-02-02T21:17:58Z")
Art Tatum. He always sounds to me like he’s just showing off his technique. Lots of flashy fireworks and no feeling. ---
**Author:** ![Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/earl_snake-hips_tucker/32/3269_2.png) [@Earl\_Snake-Hips\_Tucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Earl_Snake-Hips_Tucker)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 9:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acknowledged-greats-in-the-arts-that-you-dont-get/680367/15 "2014-02-02T21:26:59Z")
Richard Lewis. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acknowledged-greats-in-the-arts-that-you-dont-get/680367/16 "2014-02-02T21:41:00Z")
> [@K364](#): > > Composer: Schumann. Usually slotted in the top 10, I would be hard pressed to include him in my top 30. Especially his piano works (I love Chopin) and symphony’s, both of which I find painful to listen to. I like Schumann, but I never thought he was one of those “top ten” composers nor regarded as such. I did find some internet sources put him there, which really did surprise me, but most seemed to leave him off at least the top ten. For me? In art, Andy Warhol I just don’t get. I like or love all the artists mentioned in this thread so far, but Warhol doesn’t do it for me. I’ll agree with the Grateful Dead. Never been able to get into their music, even when I went through my jam band phase. Another musical blind spot for me is Hüsker Dü. Given the music and bands that I like, I should be one of their biggest fans, but I just never could quite connect with them. I don’t know if it’s just their muddy recordings and the fact that I never had a chance to see them live or what. I love Bob Mould, I enjoyed his work with Sugar, but I can’t quite click with Hüsker Dü. ---
**Author:** ![K364](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/k364/32/5_2.png) [@K364](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/K364)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2014, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acknowledged-greats-in-the-arts-that-you-dont-get/680367/17 "2014-02-02T23:51:15Z")
> [@Slithy\_Tove](#): > > Cy Twombly. Liked by a great many artists whom I do like, so it must just be me. I looked up a selection of his works: UGH-LY with a capital UGH! He makes Pollock’s works look meticulously constructed and rational. ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acknowledged-greats-in-the-arts-that-you-dont-get/680367/18 "2014-02-03T00:34:30Z")
> [@](#): > > In art, Andy Warhol I just don’t get. I like or love all the artists mentioned in this thread so far, but Warhol doesn’t do it for me. I think to “get” Warhol you have to look at it closely, in subdued light, and imagine him whispering “…and this is my dick in your ass” to you. ---
**Author:** ![rsat3acr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/a3d4f5/32.png) [@rsat3acr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rsat3acr)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 12:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acknowledged-greats-in-the-arts-that-you-dont-get/680367/19 "2014-02-03T00:38:02Z")
Christo, wrappping buildings, bridges,islands long strips of cloth on the ground. Sorry just don’t get it. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [February 3, 2014, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acknowledged-greats-in-the-arts-that-you-dont-get/680367/20 "2014-02-03T01:11:03Z")
> [@K364](#): > > He makes Pollock’s works look meticulously constructed and rational. Well, I would say Pollock’s work is pleasingly composed and rational, myself. I think that’s part of why I like him–there’s (to me, at least), a clear sense of classical composition and visual balance to his paintings. I had never heard of Cy Twombly before this thead. I’m not sure what to make of him. There seems to be some order in his work, and overall I like it, but it’s not as immediately likable (once again, to me), as Pollock’s. There’s more tension and off-balance elements to his work. His work strikes me more as free jazz, while Pollock is more bebop or something like that: chaos within a pretty strong, repetative framework. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/acknowledged-greats-in-the-arts-that-you-dont-get/680367.md?page=2)