I Blame Tina Turner

While looking around the SFMOMA's store this afternoon, I started thinking about something that has stuck with me all day. I was looking for a furniture design book or some other art book, but as I surveyed the options, I kept looking for something more out-of-the-ordinary. I didn't want someone to see my purchase and think, "Oh. How mainstream of her." In fact, when I settled on a book about Frank Lloyd Wright, I was a little disappointed (even though the book is very good and Wright was a brilliant architect) that I couldn't find something a little more unusual. (Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have bought the book if I didn't like it.) I don't think I'm alone in this sentiment, that lately, anything considered a "good" by a majority of the people is thought to be to simple or easy to be intelligent or creative.

When people my age shop around, especially in big stores like Urban Outfitters or American Eagle or the like, they are usually looking for something unique, but still within the limits of what the general public considers "cool." Young adults want to be considered an individual and known to have a style all their own, but they still seek that differentiation within the accepted limits of the current month's trends. Somethings are considered passe or too generic, like posters of French advertisements or an artist as popular as Michelangelo or Van Gogh, despite their aesthetic appeal and the artist's talent. Why is this? One reason might be that pop culture has disseminated major icons like Van Gogh's Starry Night

or Michelangelo's Mona Lisa


to the point where they a staples on college dorm walls or t-shirts or purses. But they are popular for a reason, right? People like the pictures. Basically I'm asking what is so wrong with mainstream pop culture (in this regard, don't assume I'm talking about every aspect of popular culture)? I bought a Frank Lloyd Wright book today, despite his popularity, because he is a good designer. I own two (2!!) French posters, because I like them. I guess I'm advocating to go mainstream and stop being worried about uniqueness so much - buy what you like.

(Please feel free to ignore everything I've said here, these are just the wanderings of a bored mind. I was thinking about all of this as I drove home from S.F. It's not an exciting drive. That is until Tina Turner's Rollin' On the River came on the radio and I started rocking out. Then a man in the truck next to me gave me an odd look. Advice: don't sing along with the radio, complete with dance moves, when you're stuck in traffic.)