# Art You Love, But Can't Recommend
**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-you-love-but-cant-recommend/988302
**Category:** Cafe Society
**Tags:** arts-crafts
**Created:** [August 9, 2023, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-you-love-but-cant-recommend/988302 "2023-08-09T09:31:02Z")
**Posts on this page:** 20
**Page:** 1
### Author:  [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2023, 9:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-you-love-but-cant-recommend/988302/1 "2023-08-09T09:31:02Z")
What art do you love but can’t recommend to anyone else, because you don’t think anyone else around you would enjoy it? Maybe your affection for it is founded in something that nobody else will experience, like my love for _Eraserhead_: It gets me between the eyes. It reminds me of my nightmares. It gave me the most intense film-going experience I’ve ever had when I saw a midnight showing at my local arthouse theater and walked/rode the bus home and I still felt alienated and lost in my own apartment. Nobody else will get that, so I don’t bother recommending it.
---
### Author:  [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2023, 9:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-you-love-but-cant-recommend/988302/2 "2023-08-09T09:50:21Z")
I’ve leard it’s best to not recommend listening to _The Residents_ to anyone.
---
### Author:  [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2023, 3:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-you-love-but-cant-recommend/988302/3 "2023-08-09T15:37:19Z")
Captain Beefheart is a hard sell for most people. It often takes several listens to appreciate what’s going on and most people give up before that.
_Black Mirror_ is a great show, but the first episode turns many people off.
---
### Author:  [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)
#### Post date: [August 9, 2023, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-you-love-but-cant-recommend/988302/4 "2023-08-09T23:48:57Z")
I’ve yet to find anyone who appreciates _I Heart Huckabees_ as much as I do. So I’ve given up on trying to share it.
I get it. It’s a weird movie, and pretty pretentious, which incidentally are not terrible ways of describing myself.
I also love Rush.
---
### Author:  [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2023, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-you-love-but-cant-recommend/988302/5 "2023-08-10T00:11:15Z")
I love the movie Hudson Hawk. However, I cannot say that it’s in any particular way -good-. Goofy, full of just the sort of weirdest nonsense you could imagine, but not good. But it’s so very 1990s in a way that almost nothing else is. It ticks all those baskets that reminds me of when I was just becoming, well, me (I was 17 when it came out).
On a totally different note, I loved Rothfuss’ novel _Name of the Wind_, and even liked, albeit with more qualifications the sequel. But I _can’t_ recommend it to anyone because he shows zero inclination to ever finish the damn series, like some other authors. He’ll tease about it, but IMHO has clearly moved on to other things, and will likely drop dead before that happens.
No way will I inflict that sort of pain on my friends.
---
### Author:  [@Jaycat.again](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jaycat.again)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2023, 12:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-you-love-but-cant-recommend/988302/6 "2023-08-10T00:18:46Z")
I can’r seem to find anyone who likes [The Fall](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WNIQYVEIPvs) as much as I do.
---
### Author:  [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2023, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-you-love-but-cant-recommend/988302/7 "2023-08-10T00:47:36Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#):
>
> I’ve leard it’s best to not recommend listening to _The Residents_ to anyone.
How the hell was I beaten to this by the second post?
Also: _Ulysses_.
---
### Author:  [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2023, 1:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-you-love-but-cant-recommend/988302/8 "2023-08-10T01:32:11Z")
A friend was sent a cassette mix tape by an old girlfriend that he could not track down (which he was only trying to do to find out who the guy on the tape was). Pre-internet, it took forever.
But I rarely recommend **[Jeb Loy Nichols](https://www.jebloynichols.co.uk/)** to anyone. He’s too [country/ska](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ESQHWQoYygU) for most of my friends, too [progressive](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NEYJ6Q2Mjk8) and [quirky](https://youtu.be/lbIcBVrp3Ao?t=94) for my country friends, and too [eclectic](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iA5t1TIGiXo) to know what he’s going to do next.
---
### Author:  [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mean_Mr.Mustard)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2023, 1:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-you-love-but-cant-recommend/988302/9 "2023-08-10T01:48:37Z")
I’ve always loved the 1981 movie “ **My Dinner with Andre** ”, but I don’t know a single person I would recommend it to.
mmm
---
### Author:  [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2023, 1:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-you-love-but-cant-recommend/988302/10 "2023-08-10T01:58:05Z")
> [@Mean\_Mr.Mustard](#):
>
> “ **My Dinner with Andre** ”
I do have one friend who loved it. And for whom I adapted a couple of old GI Joes and made packaging into “My Dinner with André Action Figures”!
[(_Waiting for Guffman_ reference)](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WwZkbAvBtk)
---
### Author:  [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2023, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-you-love-but-cant-recommend/988302/11 "2023-08-10T02:10:47Z")
Peter Greenaway movies.
Umberto Eco novels.
I don’t love black velvet paintings, but they amuse me.
---
### Author:  [@FlikTheBlue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FlikTheBlue)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2023, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-you-love-but-cant-recommend/988302/12 "2023-08-10T02:21:28Z")
Weekend at Bernie’s - both parts. The pop music produced by Stock - Aitken - Waterman in the late 1980s.
---
### Author:  [@ParallelLines](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ParallelLines)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2023, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-you-love-but-cant-recommend/988302/13 "2023-08-10T03:03:23Z")
I am on the record in another thread of loving WaB 1, but I can’t follow you into a love of the sequel. But I can at least see your point from where I stand if it helps.
---
### Author:  [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2023, 11:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-you-love-but-cant-recommend/988302/14 "2023-08-10T11:19:44Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#):
>
> On a totally different note, I loved Rothfuss’ novel _Name of the Wind_, and even liked, albeit with more qualifications the sequel. But I _can’t_ recommend it to anyone because he shows zero inclination to ever finish the damn series, like some other authors. He’ll tease about it, but IMHO has clearly moved on to other things, and will likely drop dead before that happens.
This is a good one. It’s the ultimate Mary Stu protagonist, especially in the second book–but other than that, they were tremendously fun fantasy in a classic mode. I’ve wondered whether Rothfuss read the criticism and mocking of the protagonist and was like, “Yikes, you’re right,” and couldn’t figure out how to write himself out of that corner.
I don’t know any art that I love but wouldn’t recommend to **anyone** else. I got a lot of weirdos around me. But there’s definitely some that I recommend to a small crowd, and with lots of caveats.
Top of that list for now is _Princess Mononoke_, which I finally saw again this week, with my 14yo daughter. Folks who know Miyazaki’s movies from _Ponyo_ or _Kiki’s Delivery Service_ or even _Spirited Away_ may think he makes kids movies. And usually he did. But in this case, holy shit, he did not. It’s straight-up war horror at points, other points does Lovecraftian horror better than Lovecraft. And it’s a masterpiece.
My daughter loved it, and thoroughly understood why I didn’t show it to her any earlier.
---
### Author:  [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2023, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-you-love-but-cant-recommend/988302/15 "2023-08-10T11:41:14Z")
I have a deep love for a wide variety of underground/niche/obnoxious music.
For example, I’ve seen Gwar 32 or so times (my avatar is the late singer, Odeus Urungus, RIP) Unless you already like metal and/or extremely over the top bloody ridiculousness, then I cannot in good faith say you should go see them. However, if you do like such things, it will the best thing you have ever experienced. It can change the way you think about what a music performance can be.
---
### Author:  [@Chad\_Sudan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chad_Sudan)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2023, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-you-love-but-cant-recommend/988302/16 "2023-08-10T12:14:05Z")
The films of Iranian director [Asghar Farhadi](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Asghar_Farhadi).
A few years ago, in preparation for a trip to Iran, I watched about a dozen Iranian movies. Farhadi’s were the ones that really drew me in – they’re accessible and engaging yet also contain deeper meanings.
His movies are all about relationships (family, marital, friend, etc.) and relationship issues. For that reason, they are, in some ways, very relatable. But no one around me would be curious enough to give an Iranian feature film a chance. I thought I’d be able to discuss these films with folks in Iran, but ironically, no one I met there was into Iranian cinema!
---
### Author:  [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2023, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-you-love-but-cant-recommend/988302/17 "2023-08-10T12:14:37Z")
> [@ParallelLines](#):
>
> I love the movie Hudson Hawk. However, I cannot say that it’s in any particular way -good-. Goofy, full of just the sort of weirdest nonsense you could imagine, but not good. But it’s so very 1990s in a way that almost nothing else is. It ticks all those baskets that reminds me of when I was just becoming, well, me (I was 17 when it came out).
I have a friend who similarly loves this movie, despite knowing that it’s generally not considered good.
---
### Author:  [@Toxylon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Toxylon)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2023, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-you-love-but-cant-recommend/988302/18 "2023-08-10T16:27:33Z")
Elected Best American Film of 1981, 92% at Rotten Tomatoes, Universal Acclaim at MetaCritic, high praise from Ebert & Siskel…
---
### Author:  [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2023, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-you-love-but-cant-recommend/988302/19 "2023-08-10T20:14:15Z")
None of which means much outside of the critical and weirdo cinema worlds.
It’s well-loved in the critical world. It’s well-loved in the midnight movie world. Outside of that, the most charitable reception seems to be a “What the Hell was THAT?” if not outright revulsion. Maybe if I knew more budding cineasts.
---
### Author:  [@Akaj](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Akaj)
#### Post date: [August 10, 2023, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-you-love-but-cant-recommend/988302/20 "2023-08-10T20:23:49Z")
> [@Crafter\_Man](#):
>
> I’ve leard it’s best to not recommend listening to _The Residents_ to anyone.
Nice post/avatar combo.
> [@RealityChuck](#):
>
> Captain Beefheart is a hard sell for most people. It often takes several listens to appreciate what’s going on and most people give up before that.
All true – and yet I managed to turn my nephew on to him.
My own nomination would be Thomas Pynchon. My best friend from college got about 100 pages into _Gravity’s Rainbow_ before giving up. (And while I enjoy his more recent stuff, it’s a lot of the same ol’ schtick and it hasn’t aged especially well.)
[Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/art-you-love-but-cant-recommend/988302.md?page=2)