Clown Torture - Bruce Nauman, 1987

[AtomicLemonade]

I wanna know what he's saying, at at 0:33 it sounds like he's saying "GOOOO DOWN", and at 0:53 it kind of sounds like he's saying "You like to be scared? you wanna be scared?

[AtomicLemonade]

I found this so disturbing

[diantonovich]

If this is art, then me talking shit about it is even better art.

This is shit. Themes and social issues? Ass-whiping is NOT a social issue!

[02hbotedw]

for works like this you cant take it as it come on face value, you need to look deeper into what the artist is trying to show you. Here the narrative isn't heavy, but it does clearly has elements of a narrative story, maybe Nauman whated us to structure a narrative out of the pieces he gave us, or maybe he just wanted to experiment with how brain dead people have become, expecting to be spoon fed meaning and motivations behind the piece

"All progress is experimental"

[christiangaraccio]

Before any more comments about how "crappy and thoughtless modern art" is, I suggest understanding the themes and social issues that are being evaluated in works such as Nauman's... You will reconsider the level of intellect that such artists posses...

[fretgod321]

@christiangaraccio technically this isn't "modern" art. it's postmodern. modernism ended in the 70s.

[consternation6]

@fretgod321 technically every new generation of artists kills off the generation before by branding them "modern", as did the Dadaists, for instance, who insisted they weren't modernists. it's all just a convention to allow art historians to keep writing new books. and you have to remember that the first use of "Modernism" was in the Renaissance, it's always been there and keeps being killed off, like a many-headed hydra

[AddictedToAndrea]

@christiangaraccio Ha ha ha ha! Watch and enjoy: watch?v=CuQHSKLXu2c#at=743

[diantonovich]

@christiangaraccio If this is art, then me talking shit about it is even better art.

This is shit. Themes and social issues? Ass-whiping is NOT a social issue!

[bluecornmuffin21]

I think this is hilarious. At first it's like "omfg what's happening!" But then, after a closer look, it's just clowns exaggerating over mundane pranks and problems. No toilet paper, about to be tickled, magic trick prank. Silly clowns.

[poppasmurfsdad]

This is just a funny "Kenny Everett" joke that has been expanded.

[stfuplz13]

As an artist, I find this painful to watch, but cannot insult the piece or the viewer, as I myself would not want to be insulted over a piece I've made.

It's ok to not understand something-- not all works will be understood by everyone. But if you can please one person-- just one-- with your piece, then you have succeeded. Fuck the rest of 'em.

[Artewilde]

He is Brilliant..........most wont understand him, and thats ok, because I dont believe he was interested in most........



[fuelyournews]

"t's such a fine line . . ."

WHATEVERIT=2U

HE BEATS THE // mcdonalds CLOWN \\

[AmongstTheBracken]

Why is there an argument over art? Art is a sneak peek into the mind of another person, if you don't like it, don't peek. End of.

[santiespejos]

contemporary art breakes down like this, you could of thought about it yourself but you didnt... art becomes legitimized by the whole works of the artist as well as the medium that a museum is... immature to say pieces like this one are "shit", art is made for the sake of art and with a whole background... get your facts straight

[JumpyKonijnJK]

 ?

(0_0)

[futuristfood]

art for sure.. why not? who's the jury? i love it. let art be art.

[AmongstTheBracken]

@futuristfood Agreed. Art affects your emotions and is a window into the mind. If this is in his mind, then it is art. The clown is an icon of childhood, be it fear or humour. Either way, I like this art.

[oskenso]

@AmongstTheBracken My reply to you comes from my mind therefore it is art!

[AmongstTheBracken]

@oskenso That it is! :D

[BerlinBoy1996]

I read so bad about this video. It's not as thraumatic as they say. It's stupid, not a torture at all. it only hasn't got sense. And not even an hidden sense. As a user posted under this video: "Mr Nauman should find a job".

[flapdoodle64]

There's some sad things known to man, but aint too much sadder than the tears of a clown...when there's no one around...

[DemonWarp65]

I will give the creator this much: At least he took the time, effort, energy and had the technical know-how to film and put this together. I believe that art should have at least some degree of effort.

[koopabeach]

a coulrophobic's nightmare

[okendido]

Is it the clown being tortured or the spectator?

[Bosterfilm]

I love how Nauman tries to make the spectator uncomfortable

[5amariu5]

It's such a fine line between modern art and bullshit. In fact, you could be forgiven for saying there is none.

[ZeitOner]

@5amariu5 There is always a majority of shitty art during every time period, we just hear about the "good stuff" in history.

I think this is obviously difficult to have a palate for this, considering that there is virtually no importance given to educating anyone to know the difference between "modern" and "contemporary", or to have an attention span to give anything a chance, with the way we are immediately capable of accessing information on everything.You can't blame ppl for not liking this.

[richardsellears]

@5amariu5

Its not modern Art. Read about it you might find it interesting?

[MichaelBlue1990]

@richardsellears it's contemporan art,modern art is from mid 1800's til 1945 orry for my english

[OddFacade]

Unfortunately, modern society treats self-proclaimed artists like the under-developed students in a school by making them feel like they're doing something fantastic when it's really just demented. :/

[ninjabastard2]

"its not as easy as it looks, is it"

[JunkFoodProductions]

CLOWN CONTROL.

[aphkumund]

crusty the clown is more talented. why curators go gaga about such crap it never stops to amaze me.

[MaestroFire]

I saw this in Berlin when i was there with school. A girl from my class is afaid of them and cried, she says that she still have nightmares of them.

Bruce Nauman should find a normal job.

[DemonWarp65]

I have seen this in person. It is one of the weirdest and most bizarre things i have ever seen!

[Galley87]

THIS is meant to be art?

[fpscockyboi]

...and it is. Naumen is sick! brap

[2fakee]

@Galley87 Sure. If you prefer watercolours of flowers - thats fine too.

[DisembowelMe]

@Galley87 If you don't think it is, define "art".

[TenshixXxAkuma]

@DisembowelMe There is always an ongoing debate about what defines art or what is not. It can always depend on personal preference in the first place, and what one defines by art.

[scandalated]

wickedddd

[themysteryman73]

this is creepy in so many ways.

[Robergine]

Awesome.

[DaBomp]

fuckin' creepy

[DinoCadet]

im not sure of its intent but i thought it was hilarious

[paxtonvanessa]

I do not understand artists.

What the F.

That is all.

[kmarty290]

@paxtonvanessa its performance art

[vonspre]

outstanding....