Roberta Writes – d’Verse: sep-a-rate, a song parody #songparody #dverse

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Melissa‘s challenge is slightly complex this week. She proposed a few artworks by the same artist as picture prompts and asked poets to write a poem expressing the thoughts the picture of their choice evoked. After writing the poem, she suggested we read up about the artist and see if it changed our feelings in respect of our chosen artwork. You can read about the artworks and join the prompt here: https://dversepoets.com/2025/02/18/sep%c2%b7a%c2%b7rate/

I chose this artwork:

My song parody below is intended to be humorous and take the ‘mick’ out of some of the pretentiousness and snobbishness in some art circles. It doesn’t necessary reflect my views on art as I do produce some non-realistic, surrealist work myself.

Why can’t artists choose to create objects of beauty?

Why can’t artists choose to create objects of beauty?

Still life paintings so realistic they almost smell fruity

Why add to the ugliness in this world?

Depicting on paper the endless hatred that unfurls

***

Just look at it

Misery articulated in every line

Flying in the face of all teachings of the Divine

***

You might say I picked a poor example

But did I?

What’s the purpose of a banana taped to a board? Note 1

An over privileged buys it for a price few could afford

How pretentious to call that mockery art

***

I wouldn’t pay a single cent for that

In fact, if it was a gift, I’d send it back

I’d view it as an insult to my sensibilities

Why can’t artists focus on depicting happiness and joy?

***

You’d think purchasers would want to view art with pleasure

Something delightful to brighten up their day

But no, they prefer to wallow in the hideous

Or even worse the clearly sad and piteous

***

Of the banana, I’m not a fan

But it’s better than a painted beer can Note 2

Really, what has art come to?

I’d much rather look at artworks produced by kindergarteners

***

Squiggly line drawings – I ask you what sort of art is that?

It’s this sort of mediocracy that allows AI to compete

AI artworks easily as good as those of modern art elite

Why can’t artists focus on depicting happiness and joy?

***

The attributes of a good piece of art should be well-known

You shouldn’t have to look at splodges and try to guess

Exactly what the intent was behind the colourful mess

An artwork’s content should clearly show what it is

***

As soon as an artist picks up his pencil and starts to work

Viewers should gasp in wonder at the work in progress

That rarely happens with much of the art that does the rounds

Looking at it turns the viewers smiles to frowns

***

A good example is modern surrealist art

What on earth is its purpose to a viewer

It makes me want to poke out my eyes with a skewer

There are even times when art completely disappears

***

Disappears … What is non-art? Why use the word art

In connection with an object that is something else entirely

I can see a photograph is a photograph without any enquiry

Surely everyone can see a stone’s a stone

***

Artists go to school to learn techniques and styles

Just as clothes designers must learn all about textiles

Why do they throw everything they learned away?

I think their attempts to be different lead them astray

***

There is nothing better than a beautiful landscape

There is no need the natural world to reshape

But create a realistic picture and you’re criticised

Why can’t artist focus on depicting happiness and joy?

Note 1: The banana line is based on this article https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/that-viral-banana-duct-taped-to-a-wall-it-just-sold-for-6-2-million-180985523/

Note 2: The beer can line refers to this article: https://abcnews.go.com/International/beer-artwork-accidentally-trashed-museum-worker/story?id=114588747#:~:text=A%20museum%20in%20the%20Netherlands%20has%20recovered%20an,of%20them%20during%20his%20shift%2C%20museum%20officials%20said.

Reading up about the artist didn’t change my dislike of his work, although in saying that I did find this face painting compelling in a dark way. In fact, it made me wonder even more why he is famous. So, my song above remains unchanged. Do you recognise the rhythm and flow? I’ll give you a hint – I went to see My Fair Lady on Sunday evening and the music is still stuck in my head.

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Published by robertawrites235681907

I am a writer of young adult fiction and poetry

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86 thoughts on “Roberta Writes – d’Verse: sep-a-rate, a song parody #songparody #dverse”

  1. Why can’t the English learn to speak??? Whilst in Toronto one year, my husband I were wandering through the modern portion of their art gallery only to come across a canvas the size of the massive wall. The white canvas has one rather small by comparison, black circle randomly placed. We both sat down on the bench in front of the piece and stared silently for about 15 minutes. Then we went back to Van Goh exhibit, the reason for our journey to Canada from the U.S. in the first place and we never went through the rest of the gallery.

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      1. I updated the post to include the articles that were the subject of the banana and beer can lines. I actually like some surrealist work and I produce some myself as Nature chaos art. This was intended to be humorous and take the ‘mick’ out of some of the more pretentious and snobby art circles.

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  7. “It makes me want to poke out my eyes with a skewer” made me laugh. Not you poking your eye out. The hilarity of the line.😅 I agree with you that in trying to be different, some people are led astray. Thank you for sharing how your perception of the art didn’t really change after learning about the artist.

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  11. There is some strange art out there and I prefer the beautiful and inspiring myself, like your nature paintings. However, regarding beer cans, there are some craftbeer companies that make really nice label art. It is mass produced, of course, but I think it is often nice looking.

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  13. Hi, Robbie – I greatly admire how you weave humor and critique into the rhythm, making it engaging and dynamic. Your repeated question—”Why can’t artists focus on depicting happiness and joy?”—adds a powerful refrain that lingers. ❤

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    1. Hi Donna, although I admire some protest and chaos art, I feel it should be beautiful and refined. I don’t like ugly art, but that is my personal view. I prefer to be surrounded by beautiful things. For me, ugly and meaningful are not synonymous. I include strong messaging in some of my own art. I also read books that include powerful messaging but I read well written and beautiful books. Thanks for adding to this conversation.

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  14. Let’s not forget the urinal upon a pedestal and the dead cat affixed to a platter. My view of the duct-taped banana avant garde brigade is that they don’t have the talent and skills to produce genuine art.

    That said, I think many artists’ response to your question “why can’t artists focus on depicting happiness and joy would be that they are driven to paint the truth as they say it.

    I’m familiar with the image you chose. I’ve always thought it was religious iconography depicting Christ’s suffering on our behalf. I’m probably wrong about that, now that I know the background of the artist!

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    1. HI Liz, your mention of the dead cat made me shudder – how horrible. I don’t like that sort of thing. I like beautiful art but I do appreciate art with messages. I even create it myself, but it is still hopefully beautiful. It is the ugliness I object too.

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      1. The dead cat “art” in question was hanging on the wall of the Old Dominion University administration building when I was a student there. Hopefully, the cat has been given a proper burial by now.

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  15. I have to disagree with you about art needing to be realistic and beautiful. That portrait is very expressive; humans do not all look like models. Art should reflect life, which is neither perfect nor happy all the time, and make you think. Do you expect what you read or write to be realistic and beautiful? Why should visual art have to be realistic and happy when written art does not?

    But the banana–yes, that is just a joke. (K)

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  16. I saw My Fair Lady just before Christmas and loved it, but the song Annette picked wasn’t my first thought. This poem is wonderful. I think the same way. I love the stanza about Surrealists, I don’t get that art either, and a poker in the eye is perfect. That portrait you chose gave me a bit of a chill down my spine. I guess when they say beauty is in the eye of the beholder it is true.

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    1. Hi Carla, I love My Fair Lady. I grew up with it and it’s one of my favourite musicals. I’m pleased you enjoyed this song parody which was a lot of fun to write. I like beautiful art. This piece is compelling in a dark way but I think it is very ugly and the same message could be sent a nicer artwork with more artistic finesse, but that is my personal view.

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  18. Does all art change or challenge our perception? No! Do we always go further and get into the psyche of the artist like you did ..No! myself I like art that is pleasing to my sensibilties however sometimes I like art that challenges my thoughts…I love how you have expressed your thoughts about this piece of art although I did hesitate to call it art…x

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    1. Hi Carol, thank you for your comment. Some art is just lovely to look at. Some covers very difficult topics and makes a point. Such art can still be beautiful. I didn’t find this picture to be pleasant to look at even though it is quite compelling. I would never want to look at that every day although I might look at it in a museum. I like beautiful things that make me feel happy. However, this poem is a song parody and was intended to be taken in a humorous way. I am sure many English people could be offended by the My Fair Lady song, depending on how they look at it. I find it hilarious.

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  24. A wonderful post, Robbie. Love the humour! You had me thinking of how I can become more attuned the to an artist and the message held within the brushstroke. I am learning to engage in active observation and reflection. I love learning about the backstories of artworks, which provides the context of the creation. I think that practicing mindfulness while experiencing art can help me connect with the underlying themes and emotions the artist wishes to communicate. Thank you for this great conversation.

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  27. Excellent take with the poem, Robbie!

    The banana art was made even more despicable when the rich fart who bought it ATE the banana.

    Every time I go to the Art Gallery, I say I’m going to check out some of the modern art. Like you say, square and squiggles, blotches and what not.

    I do like some abstract art, but I love all the other art better and end up in another part of the gallery.

    Matter of fact, I’ve collected up a lot of abstract street art, and will do a post one day.

    I went to MOCA. The Museum of Contemporary Art

    It was quite intriguing, as abstract was a minor part of the presentation. Yet what stood for art ran the gammit from fine art to installation art, sculpture to sound art and digital and video art.

    Anyway, I know what I like!Your art is on my list of likes.

    Fab post!

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    1. Hi Resa, I am so glad you enjoyed the humour in this post which was meant to take the mick out of pretentious and snobbish pseudo art experts. I do like some abstract works – the colours often attract me. I’m pleased you like my nature art, I’m painting a link currently 🦁. I love your art too, I love evening gowns and frocks

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  30. Your poem is brilliant, Robbie, and I love the song too! I had heard about the banana and feel that for what it sold for is appalling, considering the millions of people who don’t even have a roof over their heads. I don’t care how sophisticated the reasoning is, I don’t get it.

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