seeing “ELI5: What’s the Concept Behind Artistic Whims in Performance Art?” got me thinking… Isn’t the whole point of “artistic whim” in performance art kind of about intentionally throwing a wrench into expectations? Like, you have a carefully planned piece exploring themes of, say, consumerism, and then suddenly the performer starts juggling oranges. It’s not necessarily *random*, but it’s unexpected and forces the audience to re-evaluate what they’re seeing.
I guess it’s about disrupting the narrative or the flow of meaning. Maybe it’s intended to highlight the artificiality of performance, or to challenge the audience’s preconceived notions of what art *should* be. It can be awkward, confusing, even frustrating, but that feeling might be the point. Think about a musician stopping mid-song to read a grocery list – it instantly changes the dynamic.Are these whimsical moments just there to be edgy, though? Or are they genuinely adding another layer to the artwork? I’m interested to hear other people’s takes on this, especially if you’ve seen a performance where an “artistic whim” really worked (or completely failed!).