fame

this book i'm reading, essays on the blurring of art and life by allan kaprow (edited by jeff kelley) is fascinating. it's a collection of kaprow's excellent essays on art spanning 1958 to 1997. here's a short excerpt speaking about the melodramatic nature of america and the american artist: ...today [1961] vanguard artists are given their prizes very quickly instead of being left to their adventure. furthermore, they are led to believe, by no one in particular, that this was the thing they wanted all the while. but in some obscure recess of their mind, they assume they must now die, at least spiritually, to keep the myth intact. hence, the creative aspect of their art ceases. to all intents and purposes, they are dead and they are famous.