Friday, February 20, 2009

Day 19

Another medium response.

I see that one friend is still sending forwards, bless her heart. Renewed hope in my little spirit?

Perhaps...

Day 18

One medium response.

This was a pleasant surprise.

Day 11 - 17

There are othere things going on in my life right now that are squashing my spirit. I thought that this little project would give me something to smile about every day. It's not working out that way, though. So, it becomes a viscious cycle. The low turnout rate bums me out. I was originally going to do a weekly re-send and try various modes of communication to get the word out, but I'm seeing that much to my own dissappointment in myself, I'm running out of steam. Just this last week left and I'm done.

Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Wednesday, February 4, 2009

Day 4

Things are sort of looking up. Lovely cousin has lit a fire under some of his friends' butts and I'm getting some responses from that corner of the world:

Two short answers.

One long answer.

One non-answer. Kind man sent me references that I will certainly look into, but did not include his thoughts. Naturally, I wrote back, insisting on a response. I suspect it won't be long before complete strangers start making voodoo dolls with my name on it.

Meanwhile, I've set up an auto-response that thanks all responders and invites them to come here, to this blog to see how the whole project is coming along. So far this is less than titilating, methinks.

Total mailbox activity: 4 responses.

Day 3

Oh dashed hopes, oh crushing disillusionment!

Nothing in the mailbox today.

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Day 2

Off to a promising start... in relative terms.

I got one returned email due to a full mailbox. Since it was one of the three college professors, I'm interested in re-sending it as soon as possible in the interest of using her as one of my main disseminators.

I got one returned mail auto response from someone who is currently out of the country. Again, because I'm hoping that she will be a mass disseminator (she's involved in a widely used website) I'll be re-sending to this address.

I got one returned mail claiming user unknown. Also an important option, due to yet another large venue for dissemination, I'm disappointed, but not altogether thrown. I have faith that this email will get to her because other people in my first batch are also in her circle, and she might get it as a forward.

In terms of actual responses, I have received two actual, real-life, responses and am giddy.

Total activity in the mail box: 5 responses.

Day 1

I'm going to try a little experiment via e-mail. I want to see how much this e-mail takes on a life of its own by getting disseminated as far and wide as is humanly possible in a one month period.

The question I'm throwing out there:

What do you think Art is?

For Art Historians, this question is as fundamental as "What is love?" is to poets, and "What is the meaning of life?" is to philosophers. I'm asking in the interest of gathering word from "the masses." This question has been answered and re-answered by so many. It has been debated by critics and historians alike and I can't help but notice that a favorite go-to is the argument that Art is defined by the people. But who are the people? And what are they saying? Don't just throw "us" a bone, investigate. Without a publication to speak for us, or a podium at our disposal, the idea that Art is defined by the people is just a theory. An abstract pacifier to feign a bridge that has yet to be built between academics and the general population. But if Art is for the people and defined by the people, then I want to lend them (you/us?) my ear.

Here it is. Here's your soap box. Write down your thoughts, share your views. Be as brief or long-winded as you see fit. I just want to know. This endeavor is a humbly personal one, having struggled with the question, myself, for so long. I'm not interested in any kind of full disclosure. An email name and general location (ie: kittypaws in Eureka, OR) would be more than enough. I just want to get a sense of the diversity of locations this e-mail is able to reach.

I sent out the e-mail late February 1. (To be sure, it was 1am, so technically it was Feb. 2).

*I've included a number of friends and family.
*I've included three college professors from where I did my undergraduate work, in the hopes that (and with the instructions to) they will announce the little project to their students, thereby opening up a whole 'nother population in one fell swoop.
*I've included two recipients from two foreign countries in order to see if the answers come from farther and wider.
*I've included two major museum addresses, also hoping to tap into that population.
*I've included one radio personality, in the hopes I can abuse the relationship for my benefit.