What Is A Masterpiece?

[NOIRTRASH]

It usta be wares that qualified you to join a guild. State of the art, I guess.

Then it became 'more.'

Whats a masterpiece?

 

[ElectricBlue]

For me, something that is a pinnacle of excellence in its field, most commonly artistic endeavours, but also other domains and disciplines - architecture, engineering, etc...

In my mind at least, something with the stamp of an individual on it.

Masterpieces for me include:

2001 A Space Odyssey - Stanley Kubrick's film
Guernica - Picasso's painting
Fallingwater - Frank Lloyd Wright's house
SS Great Britain - I.K. Brunel's ship
Firth of Forth Bridge - Sir John Fowler and Sir Benjamin Baker
etc...

 

[oggbashan]

The original "masterpiece" was the product of craftsmanship by an apprentice that was recognised by guild of master craftsmen as sufficiently competent to be accepted the work of a full member of the guild - like passing the practical test in your final tradesman's examination.

But masterpiece is a quality judgement. If your peers and competitors recognise it as superlative, gritting their teeth as they do so, then it is a masterpiece.

To be a masterpiece, those judging it must be competent craftsmen themselves, not lay people. Popularity does not make a masterpiece. Supreme artistry and skill can.

 

[Haulover]

For me, something that is a pinnacle of excellence
...

I agree, but ... define "excellence"? I think in this context, it means that it is deemed to be excellent by your peers and critics.

...
Firth of Forth Bridge
...

And "Firth Of Fifth" by Genesis

(Considered by many to be a masterpiece.)

 

[Desiremakesmeweak]

That's interesting, electricblue66.

Some pretty decent examples there.

 

[NicoleZ]

The semantic content of words do tend to change with time; they either ameliorate or deprecate in value or esteem. As an example, about a thousand years ago, "Comes Stabuli" was the highest rank of the French court (the title dates back to the Roman and Byzantine era) whereas today constable is about the lowest of ranks.

It would seem that we have a similar but opposite (i.e. amelioration) case with the word masterpiece which has changed in meaning from the piece of work handed in by a Guild journeyman in order to prove that he was worthy of the rank and title of master to a piece of work by a confirmed master that puts it and her/him on a pedestal above other averred masters of the art or trade.

 

[Carnal_Flower]

The Last Supper is a masterpiece. Its the culmination of centuries of change in art. You could teach the whole story of Renaissance art from it. Its dense and layered and PACKED with symbolism, philosophy, theology. From an art historian's perspective, certain artworks stand out for being crossroads. Technical perfection is a part of it but historical position is too. Just in terms of how they sum up innovation and open up new paths. Its kind of a snobby term but relevant I think .

 

[TxRad]

In my mind, a 'Masterpiece' stands the test of time.

 

[Carnal_Flower]

That story is a piece, all right . . . not exactly crap, but masterpiece it ain't.


Whoops, a momentary lapse

 

[TxRad]

That story is a piece, all right . . . not exactly crap, but masterpiece it ain't.

Please don't quote him. Most everyone has his crap on ignore.

 

[Hypoxia]

Originally: A work sufficient to qualify for Master level in the guild.
Recently: A work qualitatively better than most of its competitors.
Now: A work the dealer is desperately pushing before a deadline.

That last relates to What is Art? and What is Music? Cage defined music as any sound you can get people to listen to. Warhol effectively defined art as anything you can frame and get people to look at and buy. A contemporary masterpiece is anything sold to people with more money than sense.

 

[Jay321]

how many alts does THIS one have?

 

[lovecraft68]

how many alts does THIS one have?

How much time you got?

 

[NOIRTRASH]

The semantic content of words do tend to change with time; they either ameliorate or deprecate in value or esteem. As an example, about a thousand years ago, "Comes Stabuli" was the highest rank of the French court (the title dates back to the Roman and Byzantine era) whereas today constable is about the lowest of ranks.

It would seem that we have a similar but opposite (i.e. amelioration) case with the word masterpiece which has changed in meaning from the piece of work handed in by a Guild journeyman in order to prove that he was worthy of the rank and title of master to a piece of work by a confirmed master that puts it and her/him on a pedestal above other averred masters of the art or trade.

I went the guild route to be certified by this state as a sheet metal worker. I had to make a god-awful thing from sheet steel, exactly as described by the committee. Then I earned Masters degrees from the university.

But people don't accept the Master label to mean anything.

 

[ishtat]

To obtain a Masters degree from Oxford or Cambridge University all one needs to do is, to be one of their graduates, wait a few years, apply, pay 10 pounds administration costs, and they give it to you without any extra work or study.

Oxbridge just sees it as a tradition which enables one to vote in University elections.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

To obtain a Masters degree from Oxford or Cambridge University all one needs to do is, to be one of their graduates, wait a few years, apply, pay 10 pounds administration costs, and they give it to you without any extra work or study.

Oxbridge just sees it as a tradition which enables one to vote in University elections.

Explains why Britain leads Africa as the undisputed leader of the 3rd world.

 

[Haulover]

Explains why Britain leads Africa as the undisputed leader of the 3rd world.

Oh what bull****.

I have lived in Britain and America.

There is probably more of the third world element in the US than in the UK.

 

[TxRad]

Oh what bull****.

I have lived in Britain and America.

There is probably more of the third world element in the US than in the UK.

There you go applying facts to a JBJ 'hey, look at me' post.

 

[NOIRTRASH]

The above reminds me to mention my new LIT masterpiece classic, TEX AND ILLARY.

Two old fucks collide at a nursing home. TEX can never remember if Illary gives him any lovin, and Illary lies about everything. Based on a true story.

 

[TxRad]

It seems that JBJ can't remember if he wrote anything or dreamed about it.