My view on art

[fbhjr]

I’m an engineer. In school I never took any more than the minimum art classes. I never did very well in them. In college my humanities requirements were filled with history classes.
So, that whole symbolism thing some times passes me by. Not always. Especially if I’m primed to look for things. But, often when I see something I get some impression from it. Often I am told that is not what the piece is supposed to invoke.

For instance when I saw this I said “Look, it’s Boris Karloff!”

I was told something about some cleric on a tomb.

But, I’m always going to think of Boris.

I saw this, and through the arch the statue.


I have to say my first thought was “naked guy with sword getting head”.
Yes, I know the Greek legend the statue represents, but every time I walk past this from now on I’m going to think, that guy is still getting that head.

I know next to nothing about Saint Ursula. But, this makes me think she’s some sort of sports fan and her team just scored.

I know, I know, not what is really going on.

But, she’ll be the “Yes!” saint to me from now on.

To me, this one should be called “teaching a baby Kal-El to fly”.

Yes, yes:

But, doesn’t her left arm look like a cape on the baby?
Can’t you hear her saying “you’re going to grow up to be Superman, and today you’re going to learn to fly! Want that teddy bear? Go get it!”

OK, it’s a painting of the magi bringing Jesus his birthday presents.


But, I was thinking “he can afford gold, Frankincense and myrrh, but not pants?”


This guy I know I saw in the first Harry Potter movie. He’s got Voldemort on the other side!

All it says is “man in turban”, so who can say I’m wrong?


Somewhat off subject, I had a hat like this once.

But, our costume director took it away from me because she said it made my head look like a big penis. But, it’s art! Give my hat back!

There used to be people who told me I was wrong to get this sort of thing out of art. Or to find very historic pieces of art funny for these reasons. (For “people” read “my mother”.)
But, my wife says it is fine and if art talks to me then I should just listen to what it says and not care what it says to others.
My wife went to school for art. My mother for accounting.
Think I’m going to go with my wife’s opinion here...