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Sunday, August 31, 2008

The 50 Greatest Arts Videos on YouTube

posted by on August 31 at 15:47 PM

Yesterday Metafilter linked to The Guardian’s list of the 50 greatest arts videos on YouTube—and I just disappeared into it for about three hours. Go ahead: let it swallow your Memorial Day weekend. It’s so worth your time.

My favorites so far:

1. A screen test for East of Eden wherein James Dean tells Paul Newman to kiss him, and Newman responds, “Can’t here.”

2. Billie Holiday singing “Strange Fruit” not long before her death.

3. Jackson Pollock, filmed by Hans Namuth, saying pretty much everything that needs to be said about Pollock’s painting, including that he got the idea from Native American sand painters.

4. Samuel Beckett’s only film project, running in two parts (although like me, you may have to go three parts to piece together the whole thing, because of the original linkage) at about 15 minutes long, starring an old, wrinkly, terrifying, and still hilarious Buster Keaton. It’s silent. Do watch it through to the end.

5. Kurt Russell trying to get the part of Han Solo.

There is also far, far more. I have to get back there. Now go!

RSS icon Comments

1

Ummmm....it's Labor Day Weekend not Memorial Day Weekend.

Posted by Nico | August 31, 2008 4:01 PM
2

Not much from this Millenium...sorry, Generation Xerox, only the best art gets to be classic...go back to scrawling little alien icons and anime porn on your web pages...your generation is a no show on the great timeline of history.

Posted by John Bailo | August 31, 2008 4:30 PM
3

@2: Judging by your laughable attempts at Photoshop, you're not one to talk.

Posted by Ziggity | August 31, 2008 4:33 PM
4

Memorial Day? Oh nevermind...

Posted by jean genie | August 31, 2008 5:15 PM
5

COMMENT DELETED: OFF-TOPIC


We'd rather not moderate your comments, but off-topic, gratuitously inflammatory, threatening, or otherwise inappropriate remarks may be removed, and repeat offenders may be banned from commenting. We never censor comments based on ideology. Thanks to all who add to the conversation on Slog.

Posted by Dan warmonger Savage | August 31, 2008 6:11 PM
6

If only Dan Savage had opposed the war in Iraq from the beginning; then we wouldn't be in this mess.

Posted by Oh my. | August 31, 2008 7:00 PM
7

If Dan had opposed the war from the beginning, I'd be up to my elbows in a whole mess of ribs right now. Instead, I just had a green salad.
WTF?

Posted by Matthew | August 31, 2008 7:41 PM
8

This is absolutely fantastic. Thank you, Jen, for giving me something to do this weekend other than organize my basement . . .

Posted by Will in 98103 | August 31, 2008 10:23 PM
9

@8, a week of my 98103 obviously beats your year.

You want art video? Jesus, why didn't you just ask: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0qRyZTHtXc

Posted by Jubilation T. Cornball | August 31, 2008 10:43 PM
10

thanks for making my procrastination into an easy list format.

Posted by Will in STL | September 1, 2008 12:01 AM
11

Hi Jen,

Check out the black and white 60's clip of Frank Stella sitting on the floor for an interview. It's great. Then take look at a more recent clip were he talks about the current sculpture. Sad.

HQ

PS: The Charlie Rose/Richard Serra interview is great.

Posted by HuskyQuaker | September 1, 2008 8:20 PM

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