There must be some hope for art!

[pHatBambi]

Right then!

Following a heated discussion about the "shambolic" state of art in the 21st Century I have been inspired to start a thread requesting examples of great modern artwork.

This is partly to destroy Tetsuo's ramblings and also to bring a bit of culture to those who may not have heard of such works. Hopefully it might inspire people to pick up a book, film or game etc...

Artwork is very varied and comes in a great deal of forms so I don't just want examples of the latest exhibits in the Turner gallery. Examples of film, music, literature (fiction, news, etc...), animation, illustration, games, dance, theater and TV. Whatever has inspired you, made you think about the world differently or taken you through adventures you'd never have though possible.

The last thing is, that it must be 21 Century so anything that has been created after the year 2000.

So here are a few of my own examples:

Film: Donnie Darko (2001) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0246578/

Animation: Spirited Away (2003) http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245429/

Book: Carter Beats the Devil - Glen David Gold (2001) http://www.amazon.com/Carter-Beats-Devil-Glen-Gold/dp/0786867345

Music: Quantic - Apricot Morning (2002) http://www.quantic.org/releases.php?aj_go=more&id=1018895580&archive=&start_from=&ucat=3&

TV: Doctor Who - BBC (2003) http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho/

Game: Company of Heroes (2006) http://www.companyofheroesgame.com/


Right so there's a little list to get you started. Please try to include information on your contributions and feel free to update as you find new and cool stuff. Try to be discerning, remember that this is a collection of "great art" not some cool funny shit I found on *insert random viral website URL*.

I retain the right to argue and throw out any really shitty contributions.

Feel free to make comments and discussion but this is a thread to celebrate artwork not critically destroy it.

I look foward to seeing your ideas of great modern art.

Cheers,

pHatBambi.

 

[Ronin Storm]

Let me use your format:

Film: V for Vendetta (2005) and 300 (2007)

Animation: Ghost in the Shell 2: Innocence (2004)

Book: Altered Carbon by Richard Morgan (2002)

Graphic Novel: Midnight Nation by J. Michael Straczynski (2000 - 2002)

Album: Mesh - We Collide (2006)

Single Music Track: VNV Nation - Secondskin from Honour 2003 (2003)

TV: Battlestar Galactica (2003)

Game: Fahrenheit (2005)

Oh my, looks like my choices are all pretty dark.

Unfortunately the wrong side of the millennium boundary, I'd also have gone for Whisper of the Heart (1995) in my animation category. I found that the single most inspirational animation I've ever watched and it's totally out of genre for me as well.

 

[elDiablo]

Let I your format use!

• Film:
  • Syriana (2005) - Superbly confusing with some very good character progressions throughout the film. It really shows off how keeping the audience confused to reflect the feelings of the characters can really pay off.
  • Batman Begins (2005) - Showing how a series can truly return to it's roots, and become great.
  • The Machinist (2004) - As twisted as them come, and amazingly brilliant. Though not the most subtle of twists in a movie, it is one of the better ones.
  • Serenity (2005) - Recently making it to the top of a poll for being the best Sci-Fi ever, this is truly proof that when a big TV producer (*cough*) shoots down a great TV series mid-way through the first season, and the directory that makes a multi-award winning, million-dollar film, well, it just warms my heart when the underdog (ish) wins
• Animation:
  • FLCL (2000) - Playing the "We celebrated the new millennium on Jan 1st 2000, so I'm gonna be sneaky about this" card You have to watch this series more then once just to understand it, but your views will be changed forever. My imagination has grown leaps and bounds since seeing this!
• Music:
  • Muse - Black Holes and Revelations (2006) - Great British Band that makes Great British Music!
  • Godspeed You! Black Emporer - Yanqui Uxo (2002) - Though not as good at F# A# (Infinity), it was released after 2000, which F# A# wasn't GY!BE don't make music for the people, they make it for the music. Very good (though sombre) music which is like not much else out there.
  • Requiem for a Dream soundtrack (2000) - Not heard of it? Well, it's (remix) has been used in the LotR-TTT trailer, the Da Vinci Code trailer, as well as more recently in the trailer for Sunshine. Now, that is some inspirational music and a half!
• TV:
  • Firefly (2002) - You should all know why -_- If not, read Serenity in my films bit!
• Game:
  • Defcon (2006) - One of the most atmospheric games I have ever played. The tension you receive from wondering if your plan to attack North America with your ally, by moving most of your nuke-carrying subs to the North Atlantic, is going to work or whether it's a move to bring out your subs so your ally can defect to the enemy and kill all your subs in one go is just indescribable. Awesome! And no, this isn't in here just because I'm a fan-boy!

There are lots of other things I would add, if I could include things that were released after 1990, for example. But meh! I think that's a pretty good list as is!

 

[waterproofbob]

Films Hmmm could be here for a while.
the pianist to start absolutely superb film, modern day schindlers list. Art at its very best.

I'll also second the vote fot the machinist. And bravo for elD for linking it with batman begins, the sheer effort of christian bale to lose the weight then get like he did for batman was superb.

Oldboy!! Very different again. Very well made mind blowing concept.

LOTR What can i say from the brilliance of peter jacksons vision to the weta workshop creations to the scenary in NZ.

Coffee and cigarettes Some nice film noir style filmingn from Jim Jarmusch.


I could add a few more for the film but i feel that that'll do for the time being. I'll also let you not have the mindmap of independents and horror that will just confuse most and frustrate others. Artistically these will do for the moment.
I feel however that although serenity was pretty good it wasn't a scratch on firefly. Serenity is the phil neville of sci-fi pretty good just not as good as its brother firefly.

Music
A nice bit of dub, Radiodread
For me a truelly great album of dub ska versions of some great songs.

Other
digital blasphemy I try to ignore The tate modern misconception of art and focus on this as modern art from a traditional 'Art is pictures mindset'. These graphic renderings are something else.

Cars
Morgan aero 8
DB9


I'll have a think on additions later.

 

[Tetsuo_Shima]

:/ I wasn't moaning about the lack of quality art, more the overabundance of cheap tack labelled as 'art', which, unfortunately, seems to dilute the quality stuff. In that respect, I'd rather you didn't a have a thread with the purpose of shooting down my ... 'ramblings', I'm entitled to my opinion as much anyone else is, even if I do voice it a bit more than the rest of us.


So, here's some stuff that I really enjoy. In the same format :

Movies -

The Matrix - A visionary masterpiece if ever there was one. I doubt if there was anyone out there who wasn't chilled to the bones at the very thought of the 'human crop harvest' and the whole idea of 'we are under control, but you don't know it'. The visual effects (the whole bullet time thing) and the casting were terific. I'm not sure if this was out in the 21st century, might have been 1999. Negligible.

Gangs of New York - I remember at the time, one of KC and myself's mates absolutely panned this film and took great glee in exclaiming how this film was nominated for 10 Academy Awards as opposed to LotR: TTT's 4 or 5 or something and still managed to come away with fewer awards - I think he was off his head. This is probably my favourite Scorcese work; totally underappreciated and also suffered from being overshadowed by the aforementioned TTT. The acting was absolutely class, the story was brilliant and the whole 19th century New York period was captured in spectacular form. One of my favourite films.

Pan's Labyrinth - I'm a little bit mixed about this one, but I certainly appreciate its imagery and mood, and especially the way that it really involves the viewer. I really find it interesting that the story could easily be a childrens' fairytale, with fairies, fauns, dark mysterious forest and all that lark, and yet it has so much appeal for adults (well, it is a 15, and it does have a fair bit of gore).

Music -

Radiohead - They've been around since the early nineties, but some of their latest work has been their best (which, given the standard of their previous work, is some acheivement). The albums released after 2000 consist of 'Kid A', 'Amnesiac' and 'Hail to the Thief'. Their 90s work mostly consisted of grunge rock, intersperssed with electronic elements and deeply emotional lyrics. With their last three albums, Radiohead have developed the electronic side of their works, and produced some of the finest music ever heard. An acquired taste, certainly, but once they start to grow on you you're hooked.

Agree heavily with elD on Muse. Love 'em!


TV -

Stargate SG-1 - OK, I know. Hardly the most mature and artful television show, but I love em', especially the latter series', so there.

Cars (interesting topic, bobsicle) -

I'd like to mention Lamborghini, but since their Audi takeover most of their cars have been a bit ... uninspired - apart from the Lambo Gallardo Spyder concept. Fantastic.

The newest Ferraris have been a bit miss and miss. Enzo looks too much 'function over form', it might be aerodynamically superior, but it looks like a matchbox car, massacred. The 599 also commits a fatal error - by only having single tailights! Never, ever remove the dual Ferrari tailights.

TBC when I get home

 

[pHatBambi]

...I'd rather you didn't a have a thread with the purpose of shooting down my ... 'ramblings', I'm entitled to my opinion as much anyone else is, even if I do voice it a bit more than the rest of us.

Hey Tetsuo I'm not trying to censor your opinions with this thread. If you feel that this is entirely directed at you then I'm sorry my wording has come off a bit hard. Instead I hope that this thread will in some way lift your spirits with inspiring examples of great modern artwork.

It's very interesting to see peoples differing tastes and opinions throughout this.

Keep them coming.

 

[Wraith]

Here's my choices.

Film
Blood Diamond. Films with morals don't often interest me as they usually come accross as being quite preachy and try to drive their veiwpoint home, but this is superb. Action packed, extremely well written, subtle political view, superb cast and brilliantly acted. Normally I can't stand Di Caprio but I'll forgive him all of his earlier crap (Titanic, Romeo & Juliet etc) just on the basis of this film.

I'll also second the nominations for V for Vendetta, Oldboy and LoTR.


Books
The Black Magician Trilogy by Trudi Canaven. A series that follows a young girl from street urchin to magician and beyond, with characters that grow superbly throughout.
If we were allowed books from the 1990's, I'd have to go with Ender's Game. I could never do this book justice with any review, so I'll just say read it. Even if you don't like Sci-fi.

Games
The Battlefield series. I don't think I've ever had as much fun gaming as when THN were dominating the ED league. Not just that, but the impromtu pick up and play sessions where a group of us would hit a random server and just waste everyone.
X3 Reunion (and it's predecessors). First time I ever spent the first hour in a new game just admiring the graphics Plotline is a bit weak, but most people who play this consider the plot to more of a training mission. The basic idea is that the universe is your sandbox in which you can basically do what you want. You can buy and fly nearly any ship in the game from the smallest light fighter to the biggest battleships over 1km in length (I currently have a fleet of 3 destroyers, 3 carriers and over 500 fighters). Add to that hundreds of awesome mods, a forum of people who are as friendly as those on THN, and a developer who actually listens to the suggestions of their customers. (Note: I even have a credit on X2 as I submitted a couple of articles for the in-game message board )

 

[waterproofbob]

oooooo Agreed wraith for both blood diamond and X3 , i was more into X2. but they were both sooooo pretty. LOTR totally deserved all the awards it got. I loved Gangs of New York until the end where you almost get the feeling scorsese (who is a film genius) Got a little michael bay in his OTT approach. Also Matrix was 99, however I totally agree that it should be here so cool beans. (we'll pretend the sequels were as revolutionary as the first).

 

[elDiablo]

As a small addition to the art side of things.

• Pixel Art: The most amazing thing I have ever seen, I think. Simple, old game style graphics, but drawn pretty much a pixel at a time (hence the name).
  • Nitrome - a la this thread. Those games are purely a work of art. And love. So there!
  • Pixel joint is a community of pixel artists. Browse around and see what you can find!
  • Of course, there are some youtube videos as well, showing how it's done. Clever stuff.

 

[Tetsuo_Shima]

OK, just the other day I went out and bought a couple of the items listed here, namely bobsicle's Oldboy and The Pianist, and Ronin's Altered Carbon. I couldn't find Midnight Nation, nor could I find VNV Nation, but I fully intend to purchase those at a later date (probably from Amazon, the place where you can find anything. If it isn't on Amazon, it doesn't exist). Also bought My Neighbour Totoro after I found Ronin and DocBot discussing it in the Naruto : 300 thread. So, thanks for the headsup folks, and thanks to Bambi for starting this thread in the first place.

I'd also like to make another addition to the list:

Four Tet - A solo electronic music project, by Kieran Hebden, where his music consists of rips, samples and lifts from various sources, including Hip-Hop, Techno and Jazz amongst others, all spliced together into jumpy, jerky, percussion influenced yet melodic and chilled out works of art. I've only recently been introduced to his material, but it's supreme. Try his 'Rounds' album.

 

[Ronin Storm]

I couldn't find Midnight Nation, nor could I find VNV Nation, but I fully intend to purchase those at a later date

If you're going to grab a VNV Nation album, I heartily suggest Matter & Form or FuturePerfect, and also suggest you grab them from MusicNonStop. They're a UK-based store that sells all the music I like. They don't have the buying power of Amazon so they might be a couple of squid more expensive but they've always been really good for me so I like to support them where I can.

As for Midnight Nation, I got my copy from Amazon. It's now released as a collection. When you're done reading it, read where JMS got his ideas for it in his notes at the end. Ever so personal.

Finally, for when you read Altered Carbon, a scary thought for you; some days, I think almost exactly like Kovacs, do my analysis of the world in the same way. Fortunately, I don't act like him (or at least I don't believe I do).

 

[Haven]

Art for me is anything that changes my mood or manipulates my feelings to help me experience something through the mindset that the artist wanted.

Musically: Adagio for strings (platoon soundtrack for most of you ), metallica nothing else matters, Perl Jam (ten) and NIN (hurt) I also find very inspiring + 100's of others but I wont bore you with them all - I'm big into mood music is all I'll say here.

Graphically: I love Dali's later works, the fun of finding images within images facsinates me the same way seeing faces in trees/clouds also teaches us a little of how our mind works, I also love his abstract works. Escher is also another favourite artist with a surreal and yet mathematic (two ideologies that surely should not mix!) beauty to his works.

This leads me onto movies, the first inspired by the above artists would be Labrynth, to my mind one of the best childrens movie's ever and abundant in artistry from the puppetry through to the sheer fantasy of the Escher stairway scene. Other movies that inspired me with their mood, story or artistry have been The Crow and of course Star Wars (Empire Strikes Back) for their depth, imagination and mood. Other films worth a quick mention would be Dune, The Matrix and The Lost Boys.

Finally, books ... my own personal Nirvana. So many to choose from and so hard to start. I'll start with one of the greatest works of fiction ever created - The Lord of the Rings, a book (not three!) that shaped my life in many ways (getting me into Roleplay and hence more into RPG on the computer ... hey look where that led us ), other great books have been Lovecraft's Cthulu series, Terry Brooks (magic kingdom for sale sold) and The Mythago Wood series by Robert Holdstock. Finally, Clive Barkers works continue to pull me into a fugue state as I get hopelessly drawn into their stories, of all of them Weaveworld is probably the most influential in terms of its affect on my imagination. Other books that have inspired have been works of science rather than art so I wont include them here.

Art is a very subjective thing and what inspires one person does not necessarily have the same affect on another. But I believe there is more artistry around us today than there ever has been - in our buildings, our music and our culture there is so much happening that we begin to take it all for granted due to the pace of modern life. Stop once in a while and reflect is my advice, there is a lot to see if you take the time.

 

[elDiablo]

...Adagio for strings (platoon soundtrack for most of you )...

Nope! Reminds me of the 3rd level (2nd non-tutorial level) of Homeworld 1! Sorry! That game, btw, and that level specifically, is one of the best things ever. I really felt when I played that level...

 

[DeZmond]

Nope! Reminds me of the 3rd level (2nd non-tutorial level) of Homeworld 1! Sorry! That game, btw, and that level specifically, is one of the best things ever. I really felt when I played that level...

I remember Homeworld... there was a copy of the demo included on the Opposing Force CD (the Half-Life expansion). What a game and indeed, an amazing soundtrack. *digs out Opposing Force CD*

 

[waterproofbob]

hehehe haven cheated, everything he named was pre-200o but nevermind. All fine choices. LOTR greatest story ever.

 

[Birdy]

B]Films[/B]

Serenity: simply because I don’t know a single person who wouldn’t like it. I know that a bit of a statement but its a comedy and a drama and a sci fi and a romance! Sort of covers it all don't you think?!

Brokeback mountain: Yes it may be the gay cowboy movie but its brilliant. The time its set in makes the story so tragic and the characters are played so well! Each has a view and stands on it to the death! quite literally!

talking of discrimination Crash: Is amazing! its so raw to issues that people get there back up about. And its knid of shiny in a weird way!

LOTR I agree with bob its so good! I never read the books coz Im just not a book person (no comments please) but this makes me want to read them sooooooooo much

Memoirs of a Geisha: Sooo good and yet again showing you a rather brutal truth that seems so beautiful from the outside

Music
here we go!

Zero 7: the uber chill out crew! they make me smile on the inside!

Jamie Cullum: He’s so talented (in many ways) and he has a great ear for good tunes

Amy Winehouse: Just because she never beats around the bush! ever!

Coldplay: loved them always. Except the second album. Wasn’t so loving then.

Christina Aguilera: yea there had to be some proper pop in here some where otherwise it wudnt be me! THIS GIRL CAN SING!

Other
Face Book: I love pictures. I always buy people cameras and picture frames as I think they are the most important thing in the world. If you ever want to go back in time, Just dig out some old pics and all those memories come flooding back. Good and bad! This site gives me a great source of pics of all my friends who I dont get to see all the time and also show me some great memories of parties and nights out.

finally TWOP: The best place to read up on American shows! they just rip them to shreds and reading some ones uncut thoughts on a show as they watch can be hilarious!!
ONLY IF YOU FIND AMERICAN HUMOR FUNNY!

 

[Haven]

oops I should read the post I'm replying too more carefully

*wanders off to stand in the naughty boys corner*

 

[Gopha]

Verse 1
Run and tell all of the angels
This could take all night
Think I need a devil to help me
Get things right

Hook me up a new revolution
Cos this one is a lie
We sat around laughing
And watch the last one die

Chorus
Im looking to the sky to save me
Looking for a sign of life
Looking for something help me burn out bright

Im looking for complications
Looking cos Im tired of lying (trying in 2nd chorus)
Make my way back home
When I learn to fly (high)

Verse 2
Think Im done nursing the patience
I can wait one night
Id give it all away
If you give me one last try

We live happily ever trapped
If you just save my life
Run and tell the angels
That everything is all right

Chorus
Im looking to the sky to save me
Looking for a sign of life
Looking for something help me burn out bright

Im looking for complications
Looking cos Im tired of lying (trying in 2nd chorus)
Make my way back home
When I learn to fly (high)



Bridge
Fly along with me
I cant quite make it alone
Try to make this life my own

Im looking to the sky to save me
Looking for a sign of life
Looking for something help me burn out bright

Im looking for complications
Looking cos Im tired of lying
Make my way back home
When I learn to fly

Now that is what I believe to be the best piece of Art in the 21st Century.

Long live dave Grohl and his Foo fighters

 

[Tetsuo_Shima]

I reckon Dave Grohl's talents were put to much better use in Queens of the Stoneage! Go with the muther-f*ckin' flow!

 

[Gopha]

Yeh I like them aswell for No-one knows but Foo fighters are ledge, band of both century's!