Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with contemporary

Information about travelling museums?

bwonder2 — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:57:16 -0800

Can anyone please help me remember the name of an artist, a woman, I think from the Philippines, who created and carried her own museum? Or similar projects of "mobile/portabe museums/galleries".

Full Fathoms Five...

Viola — Fri, 09 Oct 2009 10:36:17 -0800

I need help remembering the most famous Shakespeare references in modern literature. Nabokov repeatedly compares Lolita to Miranda, Eliot speaks of his father's death by quoting Ariel in "The Wasteland." I don't need entire adaptations like this question asks for, or characters overtly discussing Shakespeare (like Stephan discussing Hamlet in Ulysses) just oblique or embedded references. For some reason my brain can only recall references from The Tempest.

Be Critical

god particle — Sun, 20 Sep 2009 08:00:33 -0800

I want to start thinking critically about art, especially modern/contemporary art, so what should I read? I want to be able to discuss contemporary/modern/conceptual art with my peers, and I also want to learn about past art movements and their effects on today's art. What books would you recommend?

Desk Chair on a budget

priested — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 13:31:33 -0800

Best modern/ contemporary office furniture maker on a budget? I'm specifically interested in the hive's thoughts on best desk chairs for someone that would like something of contemporary/ modern fashion, European or American made. Budget is for under $200... am I wasting my time?

If you know of a good place to go to purchase, please also let me know. I'm in Southwest VA so online might be only option.

Help me build the best contemporary book collection ever!

tusharj — Sat, 13 Jun 2009 11:01:03 -0800

I am looking to build an amazing collection of contemporary books, which will include essentials, but also osbcure yet amazing titles. I am including the categories that I am looking to build my collection in below, and I am looking at about 20-30 titles in each category, say 20 essentials and 10 obscure titles. I am not looking for stuff that is extremely mainstream, for example I would not want any Grisham, Sheldon, Arthur or Deepak Chopra, Monk Who Sold his Ferrari, or the Secret.

The kind of books that I like are "Godel, Escher and Bach", Annotated Alice, Outposts, The Stanley Kubrick Archives. Not easily found, intelligent, beautiful amazing books. I even like controversial books like "Alice in Wonderland and the World Trade Centre Disaster" and "the Missionary Position: an expose of Mother Teresa". Even rare spritiutal books like "Tertium Organum" and books by Idies Shah on sufis or any book by Alan Watts.

I am also looking for books which are beautifully designed, as in they are wonderful objects within themselves like the Godfather Family Album or the MILK project book, Humanity.

Money is not an object, and even though I prefer books in print, rare books that are out of print would also do.

If you are familiar with any of the categories below, I would like you to recommend the essentials in these categories. Otherwise, any amazing book that you have come across, which is not completely obvious would be great. Also if you ve come across good lists from experts and authors etc, of their favorite books, would be great if you could link.

Film
Music
Biographies
Children's Books
Comics
Graphic Novels
Cooking, Food and Wine
GLBI
History, Politics
Psychology
Architecture
Psychedelia
Sexuality
Spirituality
Travel
Sci Fi
Controversial

Trying to remember the name of a contemporary American Painter

ssimon82 — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 10:27:34 -0800

What is the name of a contemporary American figurative painter, in his 40’ies, lives on the East Coast, possibly Philadelphia, who paints very realistic, elongated female nudes? He’s been compared to Andrew Wyeth, studied with Russian painter whose name starts with M, was profiled in the New Yorker a couple of years ago. I think his name starts with C. I'm driving my co-workers crazy trying to remember his name. Please help!

Campus Architecture

senorpuma — Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:48:20 -0800

What Universities have great modern architecture projects on campus? I'm a recent graduate in Architecture, and I'm interested in visiting some campuses that have great architecture. I appreciate historic architecture (Georgetown, Rice, and Stanford come to mind) but what I'm looking for are campuses that have a lot of modern and contemporary architecture. Thanks!

But... how new is it? And IS it truly "improved"?

Shepherd — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 14:52:21 -0800

Contemporary reading on ethics in marketing? I work in the ad industry, and love my job -- but I'm interested in exploring the ethical ramifications of marketing a bit more.

I know the standard "all marketers are liars" meme, and I've seen some of the seamier sides of the industry, but mostly I see folks trying to balance competitive capitalism versus moral concerns, and falling in a huge grey area. To date, I can't see much addressing this -- there seems to be an "ethics day" in most marketing courses but not much else -- and I'm curious as to whether anybody has written seriously about ethics and marketing, mostly from an "philosophical but accessible" position.

I'm looking for something meatier than the Wikipedia articles and summaries such as this. I'm not well-versed in philosophy, but I'm not scared of it either, if you know what I mean.

What's a good architecture catalog website?

askmeacct — Mon, 15 Sep 2008 10:31:43 -0800

Contemporary architecture: Is there a website that lists notable pieces of recent architecture, organized by city, with pictures and descriptions? I'm traveling to Paris and London and I need a tool to plan out my time in those cities so I can see cool buildings in an efficient manner. So, any resources devoted solely to architecture in London or Paris would also be appreciated.

Tété-Michel Kpomassie: Where is He Now

luriete — Wed, 03 Sep 2008 11:46:43 -0800

Tété-Michel Kpomassie: where is he now? Whatever happened to him? I can't find other books by him after An African in Greenland; I've read he eventually received French citizenship and lives there now - but what does he do? He must have written other books or articles, right? Anyone know?

not lacking motivation, just knowledge

Anonymous — Mon, 11 Aug 2008 16:13:33 -0800

Advise for a 32 yr old amateur who wishes to dedicate the rest of their life to creating art Sometime soon (over next 15 months or so) I’m going to change careers and begin creating contemporary art full-time. I realize I’m starting way late (I’m already 32), so I want to make the best early decisions that I can and not waste my time. Please give me any advice that you can to help me get started on this path right.

First, I should say that I’ve already looked at other threads on this and similar topics. I’m not interested in creating commercial art (graphic art, design), nor am I interested in creating popular art (art shows, craft pieces, reproductions). I want to create gallery art, seeped in an understanding of art history, criticism, and theory. I have a serious muse itch (I have a binder full of hundreds of ideas), and I don’t think I will be able to stop it any time soon. Plus, I’ve already spent 10 years doing work I’m not fulfilled with; I want to dedicate myself to art 100% (understanding that I may have to spend time networking and communicating).

My technique is not the greatest. All of my technique had been developed in middle school and high school (in the 90s) and various self-training. Over the last year I have been trying to retrain my technique, but I don’t want to waste much time if I don’t have to. Frankly, most of my ideas will end up being mixed media sculpture anyway, so I’m not sure how long I should focus on drawing and painting.

I’m not independently wealthy by far, but I live cheaply enough, and I’ve saved up enough money over the last 10 years to float me for at least another six or so. Plus my spouse is pretty supportive and is willing to subsidize me.

Any advice will be helpful, but here are some things I've been particularly brooding over:

1. Do I spend time and money on a BFA? Or a MFA? There are colleges within range of me that are not fantastic, but probably adequate
2. How do I make connections with other artists?
3. How do I establish my credibility?
4. How do I get my pieces into galleries?
5. How difficult is it to get a piece into a museum (like PS1, for instance)?
6. Who should I try to meet?
7. How do I pay for things? Some of my ideas may require access to some serious machinery and materials. Are there secrets?

What is this novel called?!

nonmerci — Thu, 15 May 2008 10:14:18 -0800

Please help me identify this French novel! I'm filling in another stupid Facebook application involving the books you've read, are reading, etc. and suddenly remembered that I read a French (in French) novel last year around the fall. For the life of me I cannot remember the title OR the name of the author, though I'm sure if I were to see *either* I would recognize them.

Here is what I can remember: I believe the novel was written in the 1950s or 1960s, and while I don't think it was necessarily 'high literature' I believe the author was rather prolific (though I could be wrong). I'm also fairly sure the author was a woman. It was a sort of roman d'apprentissage, or coming-of-age tale, involving a young woman at a summer house on the beach where she was staying with her father and...step-mother? It could have been the other way around, as in mother and step-father, but I don't believe so. One of her parents was dead, I'm almost positive.

She meets a young man who lives in a house nearby, they fall in love and begin to meet secretly where they have a sexual relationship (though I believe she is only 15 or 16 and he is perhaps 20). The father finds out and she is forbidden to see him.

After that, details get hazy. I recall her being frustrated and angry for most of the novel and I believe it ends with SOMEONE dying in a car accident. Her father, perhaps. I honestly don't remember.

I bought the novel second-hand at a bookstore in Berkeley...please help me remember what the hell it's called! I tried searching the keywoards I can remember on google.fr but for some reason TRANSLATIONS OF TRUMAN CAPOTE are the number one results.

Thanks, HiveMind!

Haunted by a pop art painting from my childhood -- who painted it?

ROTFL — Mon, 14 Apr 2008 05:10:22 -0800

60s pop art painting of a Gulf sign -- who is the artist? In the early 70s, when I was a child, I used to go to a restaurant that had striking contemporary art on the walls. One of these art works still haunts my mind: a stark-looking Gulf sign rendered as it would be seen from below. I've thought of it often in the last 35 years, but never seen it again.

The feel and look of the art were similar to this Ed Ruscha painting of a Standard station. I can't find any indication that he ever painted a Gulf sign, though. Can anyone help me identify the art I remember -- and maybe even find a place to buy it?

(I should add: The restaurant has been gone for over 20 years; no way to trace the art through them.)

How do I bridge this gap gracefully?

heavenstobetsy — Thu, 13 Mar 2008 18:43:21 -0800

I like indie type rock. He likes U2 and Bon Jovi. Help me make a mix cd he won't hate! I'm trying to make a mix cd composed of indie type music that isn't too...subversive? Out there? For a guy used to mainstream type rock like U2, Goo Goo Dolls, Blue Rodeo, The Fray, etc. I have made him mix cds in the past which have been mostly what I'm listening to but thought he would like. Wrong every time. Help me impress him this time. I'm looking basically for songs he's never heard of before but would be accessible to someone with his tastes. Sorry if this is vague!

For example this time I'm including:

Ryan Adams - To Be Young
Pete Yorn - Closet
Spoon - I Summon You

But also some older stuff like

Billy Joel - Vienna
Otis Redding - Try a Little Tenderness

which I know he also appreciates.

If any clarification is needed, will be watching this thread. Thanks!

Recent jazz standards?

eritain — Sat, 21 Jul 2007 01:41:55 -0800

What are the recent jazz standards? Prototypically, jazz standards are from the '40s—let's guess the median is somewhere around 1945 and the standard deviation is 15 years—but the canon is certainly not closed, as shown by, say, 'Birdland' (1977). What else has become really widely known and played, in that time frame or since? Please cite a few performers to justify your claim. Bonus points if they're in different styles or decades.

Looking for title to a short story

Rolandkorn — Thu, 12 Apr 2007 22:40:18 -0800

/bookfilter Looking to find the name of the author and the story to this contemporary short story written like 10 to 20 years ago. The title was the Girls of Saint Dunstter cant find the exact spelling on the dunstter but it a play on Dumpster. In the short story the teacher is beaten up by these girls who are the terror and as he is recovering his imaginery father ask him why he would want to help out these girls, it really cant be cause he wants a bit of the juicy rough. And the Teacher explains that he wants to learn how these girls live in a world without romance. The author might have been name hawking or something. thank you

What items should I get to fill up my living room wiht this Eastern theme?

apple — Thu, 14 Dec 2006 02:34:34 -0800

I need help redecorating my house. I am going for the "Eastern" and contemporary look (Indian/ Middle Eastern/ Asian decor mixed with West Elm-ish contemporary style). I want to have Buddha statues, silk fabric for the window curtains, silk throw pillows, artificial plants and etc. I would love for my living room to look like Jeremy Piven's living room which can be seen in the documentary "Jeremy Piven's Journey of a Lifetime: India." If you can please link me to any websites that have pictures of living rooms or bedrooms with this theme. If you could also please give me any tips and advice on what stuff I should get and what stores to look at. I am located in Houston, TX and have been to Pier 1 Imports and Cost Plus World Market. Both stores are great, but more stores recommendations would be nice. I am also trying to save some money on this project, so any frugal tips would be great. Links to pictures of furnished rooms is what I am mainly looking for and would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Here is are some pictures of Jeremy Piven's living room this is the the exact look I want: (make sure you zoom in, many browsers auto reduce the size so it all fits in on the screen)
direct link

Important Theoretical Works from the 21st Century?

Aghast. — Thu, 13 Jul 2006 10:52:02 -0800

In 2001 Norton released the Norton Anthology of Theory and Criticism. Stuart Moulthrop's 1993 article "You Say You Want a Revolution?" was the most recent piece included. If the Anthology were to be updated which more recent articles are important enough that they might be candidates for inclusion? The problem I want to solve is that Norton didn't include any pieces from after 1993 and I wish they had. I realize this is subjective. Your subjectivity is welcome.

Fill my bookshelves.

scarylarry — Fri, 16 Jun 2006 06:00:41 -0800

Given my favorite authors from the modern and pomo canon, please help me find some young, lesser-known contemporary writers. I've done a lot of reading in the modern and postmodern literary canon, and am fairly well-versed in 20th Century fiction. But I find that my finger really isn't on the pulse of today's literary scene. Can anyone list some young, new authors (maybe with just one or two books to their credit) who would jive with my better-known favorites?

I've read and enjoyed David Foster Wallace, William T. Vollmann, Richard Powers, and others from their generation--but I'm looking for writers even less established. I'm open to fiction and drama, and also poetry.

My favorite books are these:

Fiction:

Pynchon, Gravity's Rainbow
Pynchon, Mason & Dixon
Gaddis, The Recognitions
Gaddis, JR
Alisdair Gray, 1982, Janine
Gray, Lanark
Martin Amis, Money
Any of Beckett's fiction
Any of Flann O'brien's novels
Anything by Nathanael West
Nabokov, Lolita
Faulkner, The Sound and the Fury
Faulkner, Absalom, Absalom!
Melville, Moby-Dick

Drama:

Everything by Sam Shepard
Everything by Pinter
Most of Ionesco
Beckett, Endgame and Krapp's Last Tape

Can you recommend a good online retailer for contemporary or mid-century modern furniture?

medpt — Thu, 24 Nov 2005 10:37:43 -0800

Can you recommend a good online retailer for contemporary or mid-century modern furniture? I want to buy a bed, couch, and dining table. I like Room and Board but am looking for more options. (Bonus question: if you've ordered anything from Room and Board, are you happy with it?)