# Artforms that could be great but suck **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 19, 2017, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artforms-that-could-be-great-but-suck/780213 "2017-02-19T05:42:58Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 11\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Lucas\_Jackson](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lucas_jackson/32/303_2.png) [@Lucas\_Jackson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lucas_Jackson)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2017, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artforms-that-could-be-great-but-suck/780213/21 "2017-03-24T12:59:00Z")
Clown make-up!? Seriously? Wow. But as long as we are discussing it… clowns faces were meant to be able to be read from a distance. With a palette the size of a face big bold shapes are about the best you can do for the folks in the upper bleacher. ---
**Author:** ![Ranchoth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranchoth/32/1066_2.png) [@Ranchoth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranchoth)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2017, 1:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artforms-that-could-be-great-but-suck/780213/22 "2017-03-24T13:46:48Z")
Flags also serve a _symbolic_ purpose; important for building a sense of morale, inspiration, and identity. A visually recognizable design helps this, certainly, but merely using a [high-contrast color design](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_German_flags#/media/File:Merchant_Flag_of_Germany_(1946-1949).svg) _or_ [designed by committee to meet the artisto-historical requirements on a checklist](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/Flag_of_the_State_of_Georgia_%282001-2003%29.svg/742px-Flag_of_the_State_of_Georgia_%282001-2003%29.svg.png) might not be enough to stick in hearts and minds. In short, they serve not just visual recognition, but [_brand_ recognition.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brand_awareness) ---
**Author:** ![DrCube](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a3d4f5/32.png) [@DrCube](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrCube)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2017, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artforms-that-could-be-great-but-suck/780213/23 "2017-03-24T14:58:18Z")
> [@Martini\_Enfield](#): > > Money isn’t an artform, though - it’s functional. I’d argue that the vast majority of art falls into this category. “Functional” is a descriptive term for most art. It’s not a defining characteristic of not-art. You wouldn’t say “architecture isn’t art, as its overriding function is to keep a roof over your head”. You wouldn’t say “lighting design isn’t art, because it’s supposed to illuminate our living and working spaces”. ---
**Author:** ![Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/half_man_half_wit/32/21766_2.png) [@Half\_Man\_Half\_Wit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Half_Man_Half_Wit)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2017, 3:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artforms-that-could-be-great-but-suck/780213/24 "2017-03-24T15:07:12Z")
> [@Banksiaman](#): > > And brief stand-up monologues in comedian-oriented sitcoms. What’s the deal with them, huh? That’s art right there! ---
**Author:** ![Thudlow\_Boink](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thudlow_boink/32/320_2.png) [@Thudlow\_Boink](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Thudlow_Boink)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2017, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artforms-that-could-be-great-but-suck/780213/25 "2017-03-24T15:10:17Z")
> [@Ranchoth](#): > > I’m actually with you a lot of the way, just from seeing far too many US state and city flags There’s plenty of fun to be had with state flags: [Every state flag is wrong, and here is why](https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2015/06/23/every-state-flag-is-wrong-and-here-is-why/?utm_term=.bab6abf46e72) [ALL 50 STATE FLAGS, RANKED](https://www.thrillist.com/gear/all-50-us-state-flags-ranked) And several old SDMB threads, including [Judging state flags](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=761173) that gave me the first link above. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [March 24, 2017, 6:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artforms-that-could-be-great-but-suck/780213/26 "2017-03-24T18:40:48Z")
Opera. Sometimes I hear an overture or aria I like so much that I track down an audio or video recording of the whole production. I’ve done it probably a dozen times over the decades, and I have always been disappointed. You get at most 15 minutes of good music from an opera that might last anything from two to four hours. And God save us from sopranos supposedly dying of consumption who can still somehow rally themselves to shatter glass–and eardrums–at a hundred paces. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [March 25, 2017, 6:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artforms-that-could-be-great-but-suck/780213/27 "2017-03-25T18:18:36Z")
> [@jackdavinci](#): > > Flags, man. Think of how great they could be, summarizing the ideal and sentiment of a whole country in iconic form on a cloth canvas. But looking at the majority of what’s out there, it is mostly boring and ugly. The only flags I can think of as being interesting or aesthetically pleasing aren’t geopolitical (Earth, Pride, and UFP (Trek)). > > I would say money too. There’s some progress being made in places. There’s definitely more people aware of the problem than with flags. It could use some work too though. > > I would also say clown makeup, though Cirque duSoleil has made some strides in that arena. > > What other examples have you? I started collecting paper money recently, it’s neat how much of it is well designed. It’s kind of funny though looking at some of the currency released by Germany during the depression. It’s like they just gave up and said “meh, we’ll be releasing a new design next week”. Korea, India and Maryland have some of the neatest flags ever. ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artforms-that-could-be-great-but-suck/780213/28 "2017-03-27T00:20:05Z")
> [@furryman](#): > > Korea, India and Maryland have some of the neatest flags ever. I’ve always liked Libya’s old flag. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![mbh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a6a055/32.png) [@mbh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mbh)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artforms-that-could-be-great-but-suck/780213/29 "2017-03-27T01:06:49Z")
**Artforms that could be great but suck** Someday, someone will do a portrait of Elvis on black velvet that will astound the critics. I’m kidding. But, seriously, I don’t see anything intrinsically wrong with the medium. ---
**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:** [March 27, 2017, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artforms-that-could-be-great-but-suck/780213/30 "2017-03-27T09:21:03Z")
> [@DrCube](#): > > I’d argue that the vast majority of art falls into this category. “Functional” is a descriptive term for most art. It’s not a defining characteristic of not-art. > > You wouldn’t say “architecture isn’t art, as its overriding function is to keep a roof over your head”. You wouldn’t say “lighting design isn’t art, because it’s supposed to illuminate our living and working spaces”. Actually, some people absolutely would. It’s the distinction between art and craft. I personally use the word loosely, but not everyone does. ---
**Author:** ![Derleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Derleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Derleth)\ **Post date:** [March 27, 2017, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artforms-that-could-be-great-but-suck/780213/31 "2017-03-27T18:07:49Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Actually, some people absolutely would. It’s the distinction between art and craft. I personally use the word loosely, but not everyone does. OK, then paintings aren’t art, as their function is to signal the wealth and taste of their owner. Very functional indeed in some circles. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/artforms-that-could-be-great-but-suck/780213.md?page=1)