Re: [microsound] outsider artists

[Kevin Ponto <kevin@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

There might be an interesting parallel between Wesley Willis' "broken" 
psyche and the "aesthetics of failure" notion.

Or maybe he's just another circus sideshow for us to gawk at until his 
novelty expires, at which point he's discarded. I know the only time I 
listen to Willis is when I'm exhibiting him for other people, always 
within the context of mockery and the "freak show" aesthetic. Without 
that fresh novelty, it's unlistenable. I'm not sure I'm ready to 
classify what Willis did as art, outside or otherwise. If he was as 
mentally ill as his music suggests, than I'm inclined to believe that 
the actions he undertook which resulted in his music might have all the 
artistic value of slicing oranges, or counting the threads in your 
bed-sheets. I'm not sure I see how it can be taken seriously in any 
context other than as an odd specimen.

k


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