Interesting Ideas Review

http://interestingideas.com/

Overall 4.00 of 5 (by 1 user)

Croupier
Dallas, TX

Devoted to finding inspiration in the contemptibly familiar.

politically liberal, design conscious, interested in roadside art, interested in the united states

Pros

inspiring, makes the familiar seem extraordinary, absorbing, highlights outsider art, reframes aesthetics, evocative of other times, evocative of other places

Cons

easy to spend hours here

DEC

2007

Interesting Ideas —

Interesting Ideas enables its visitors to lose themselves in another place, another time--even though the images it presents to viewers are ones that many people see every day of their lives. Some would say that Interesting Ideas makes the ubiquitous interesting or the familiar extraordinary; I believe a better description of Interesting Ideas's work would say that the site simply exposes the fascinating already present in the everyday. In the context of an Interesting Ideas visual study, the near-mansard roof that bedecks many a McDonald's is highlighted as an American re-interpretation of French architecture, heavy with post-World War II ideas about conformity and aesthetics. The ubiquitous gyros signs that hang all over Chicago suddenly seem, when grouped en masse by Interesting Ideas, to stand perfectly for the ur-Midwestern values of hard work and using stick-to-your-ribs food to fuel your labor.

The gyros sign gallery also serves to highlight Interesting Ideas's devotion to and interest in outsider art and roadside art. Artists without any formal training, as well as homes and businesses that are worthy of visual and social study, get at least some of their due on the Interesting Ideas pages. Without Interesting Ideas, it is a safe bet I never would have seen a picture of Howard Finster's Paradise Garden or one of Joe 40,000 Murphy's photographs. Fascination awaits you everywhere may not be the message Interesting Ideas intends to convey to its visitors, but it is the message I take away.

One caveat for conservative surfers: While there are many more liberal than I, I do identify as fairly liberal and I found the Interesting Ideas political theses pretty reasonable. If you disagree with the site's politics, you can still enjoy the art (as is my experience on visits to the visually stunning and politically conservative Lileks.com). I urge you not to let partisanship ruin your visit to Interesting Ideas; if nothing else, five minutes spent at the site is likely to make your morning commute a little more inspiring, whether your environment is urban, suburban, or rural.

Last edited on Dec 01, 2007