by Jon Lackman | 10 March 2006 | Conferences
Suzaan Boettger delivers her CAA wrap-up on Artnet: “The singsong tenor of Danto’s grandfatherly voice reminded me of Daniel Dennett’s Philosophical Lexicon definition for ‘arthurdantist, n. One who straightens the teeth of exotic dogmas, viz., “Little Friedrich used to say the most wonderful things before we took him to the arthurdantist!” — Frau Nietzsche.’ Danto’s talk seemed to be generic ‘Public Intellectual’ — not unlike [Edward] Kennedy, offering blather on a broad topic — and inappropriate for this discriminating audience facing three more days of tight 20-minute arguments … Rushing down halls, one can discern professions in a flash. Those in banker suits (actually, they look more like bank tellers) are on site to interview for a teaching position; scruffy dressers (generally male) are art students; those wearing all black scream ‘theoretical’ or ‘grad student in a major Ph.D or MFA program’ (memo to Robb Storr: tell the Yalies that when it comes to attire, ‘postmodern’ doesn’t mean ‘postmortem’); creative sweaters and boots on women connote ‘artist’; less imaginative feminine scarves or skirts suggests an art historian ‘secure in job,’ whereas the male academic uniform of button-down Oxford, striped tie, tweed and cords displays ‘more important things to think about than clothes.’ We hope.”
