60 Minutes art world takedown: the sequel
But is it journalism? Nearly 20 years ago venerable 60 Minutes correspondent Morley Safer conducted an infamous art world takedown that essentially used every emperor-has-no-clothes trope to make the art world and those who worship at its high-priced altar look ridiculous. The piece has lots of shots of pretentious art world types thrusting out their well-heeled jaws and generally confirming the stereotype of the clueless head-up-their ass art patron.
Making cameos are works by Cy Twombly, Gerhard Richter, and the notorious Jeff Koons, who is on hand to offer sound bites that do nothing to refute Safer's thesis, that at the time was decried with the label "anti-intellectualism", a badge I'm sure he wore with pride. Making a return appearance will be Jeffrey Deitch who was on hand in '93 to explain the meaning of a purple upside-down man sculpture to a bewildered Safer, who found refuge in dripping sarcasm and recently deceased critic Hilton Kramer, who confirmed his suspicions. We'll be tuning in tonight.
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