Episode 72 - Art

This week, Norah joins Ben to talk about a subjective… subject.  The word is art, so prepare yourself for a more philosophical episode than you're used to.  The hosts share their love of observing, appreciating, making, and talking about art.  Ben tells a few stories, Norah brings her research, and they both drop many artist and architect names.  For details about the episode’s "video game bookends," see below!  Video games mentioned or discussed (albeit briefly) in this episode include:  Mahjong Dimensions - by Arkadium Pocket Card Jockey: Ride On! - GAME FREAK The Grand Theft Auto franchise - Rockstar Games World of Demons - PlatinumGames Odin Sphere: Leifthrasir, 13 Sentinels: Aegis Rim, and Dragon’s Crown - Vanillaware Jet Set Radio - Smilebit and Sega The Borderlands franchise - Gearbox Software 00:00:21 - Chicago snowstorms, gauntlets, removable hands, and one big wind tunnel 00:02:30 - What we are playing these days: Mahjong Dimensions and Pocket Card Jockey 00:05:27 - An impromptu endorsement of Apple services and products 00:06:40 - Art according to Oxford Languages, the 13 Bhutanese Arts, and the Art of War 00:10:30 - Subjectivity, relativity, no abbreviations, “art thou,” and ars  00:12:20 - Personal meanings of the word, Ben’s arts of podcasting, and NFT-like episode titles 00:15:30 - Ben asks, “when you follow a pattern, are you creating art?” 00:17:42 - Norah’s “not normal people” when drawing and painting, and Ben’s modern art  00:20:46 - Paint by numbers is so much easier with iPads, and representative art philosophy 00:26:28 - Impressionism, art as form, Norah loves Frank Gehry, and noisy mimes 00:33:32 - Architecture of Louis Sullivan, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe  00:35:47 - Ben’s Mister 20 / POÄNG chair diversion, and an architect’s furniture designs  00:38:51 - HEY GRAHAM!  Do you know what would make this podcast better? 00:40:42 - Norah’s experiences at this year’s International Puppet Festival in Chicago 00:43:19 - Bad puppet show criteria, Tony Scott, and thinking about what isn’t art 00:45:51 - Paul’s impressive latte art, art student Dread Scott, and the movie “So Fine” 00:50:38 - The use photorealism and other stylistic choices in video games 00:54:09 - Ben loves Vanillaware Ltd.  games, and talks about the company’s history 00:57:25 - Ben tries to explain hand painted images, RTS games, and pointless teasers  01:00:01 - “Better Off Ted,” Jabberwocky, and Ben loses his train of thought 01:02:20 - Norah impressed by the art style of “World of Demons” 01:04:28 - The cel shading game art style, ne’er-do-wells, graffiti art, and Jean-Michel Basquiat  01:08:40 - Perceptions of art, closing thoughts, the art of shame  If episode graphics are not displayed or supported by your preferred podcast app, you can check them out at www.twovaguepodcast.com .