Little do people realize, but there is art in this world that doesn't hang in a museum or that hasn't been sculpted into stone. Art beyond what can be projected onto movie screens, beyond what we boom out of our stereos.
There are art forms that usually get the shaft when it comes to public appreciation. There is art that you may not know, and art that you may not know you practice.
Today, those forms of art strike back ... with vengeance.
The Art of Passive Aggression
Although not actually recognized by the National Endowments for the Arts, the art of passive aggression is at least as old as civilization itself and when practiced correctly can be every bit as affecting as a Caravaggio oil painting or a stiletto to the kidney.
The cardinal rule that must be observed when using passive aggression is to know the range between what is merely just passive and what qualifies as direct aggression.
For example, if a roommate continually leaves the door unlocked, shutting the door would be considered far too weak a response to be considered passive aggressive. Hiding several of their possessions for a couple of days would be considered a much more appropriate way to handle the situation.
Crushing one of the offender's limbs repeatedly in the door, however, would be ruled out as erring on the side of actual aggression.
Anime Art
Set sail across the ocean to Japan, the country where anime, one of the most dazzling art forms, emerged. Since its birth in the 1960s, anime has spread to various countries and has made its mark on American soil. However, anime still remains an underrated form of art.
Japanese animation extends far beyond being 'just cartoons.' Its use of colorful images, intricate characters, complex plot lines and various genres shows that the sole purpose of anime is not to entertain but also to get the audience involved in what is taking place.
Anime takes on a variety of plots that can range from the bouts of female superheroes in Sailor Moon, to ancient samurai sword-play in Rurouni Kenshin, to futuristic action-adventure in Cowboy Bebop and can even go as far as satirizing their own fans as seen in Genshiken. Anime has a lot to offer people of all kinds.
Getting Drunk, Artfully
This art form is only for the very experienced'experienced drinker that is. Known as the power hour, this drinking game is the perfect pre-game for some, and the beginning of the end for others.
For those unfamiliar with this interactive and inebriated art, the power hour entails taking one shot of beer every minute for one hour. The extremely ambitious can extend the game to reach century club status, a total of 100 minutes of cheap beer shots.
While the game can be played with any standard clock, it is much more fun set to music. Aspiring artists can download a power hour program, make a playlist on WinAmp or iTunes and let the fun begin.
Because only the first minute of the song will be heard, avoid intro guitar solos at all costs. A good variety of songs that everyone knows is the key to a successful power hour.
The Art of Faking Literary Prowess
Just about anyone can choose not to read a book and successfully understand the Sparknotes version of whatever literary text, but only a true artist can make one think that they actually did read whatever incomprehensible jumble was assigned.
The key lies in perception; you know that annoying kid in every class that talks incessantly to prove his intelligence? You probably think he is obnoxious and wish he would go away, but the artist embraces his flaws. He uses his ramblings as a touchstone; the artist chooses one point the annoying kid made and expands.
The artist applies some argument that the kid made to a universal theme, giving the impression that he has read the text, analyzed it and made some broadened allusion, when in fact he skipped the first two steps.
The advanced artist has not only mastered this technique, but has learned to apply it to tests, essays, etc.
Art Imitates Not Just Life, but Robots
A man stands perfectly still when suddenly (bzzzzzt) he moves exactly like a robot. That's not a man at all; it is a real robot! No wait, closer inspection reveals it is a man pretending to be a robot. These robot dancers represent some of the best forms of street performance the world over.
They know how to make the 'bzzzzzt' noise and move very disjointedly ... and that is pretty much all that is required. Then the greatest trick they do is to actually get people to pay them to do it!
The only downside to this art will be when actual robots launch a coup and overthrow the robot dancers. Then what once was entertainment will become the harbinger of death for untold masses. All hail our robot gods!
But until that happens, the men who dance like robots will remain thoroughly entertaining.
'Eunice Abraham, Matt Hunziker, Joe Lynch, Kevin Nelson, Erica Walkup, Kiera Wiatrak
