894 — Understanding Modern Art

If you can understand what you’re looking at in a modern art museum, you might be doing something wrong. Find out more in this episode.
Slow dialog: 1:27
Explanations: 3:06
Fast dialog: 15:56
Stephan: What’s that?
Livia: It’s my latest artwork. It’s experimental.
Stephan: It’s, um...
Livia: Abstract. It’s part of a performance art piece I’m putting together. It’ll really challenge people’s perceptions of reality.
Stephan: I don’t really understand contemporary art. Is it supposed to represent something?
Livia: It’s my interpretation of how the rich oppress the poor.
Stephan: Really?
Livia: Yes, from a postmodern perspective.
Stephan: Oh, I see.
Livia: You do?
Stephan: No, not really. I don’t think I’m cut out for modern art. I prefer art to be representational. I just can’t wrap my head around this.
Livia: That’s the point. It’s supposed to challenge you and make you think.
Stephan: Well, it’s certainly made me think.
Livia: It has?
Stephan: Yeah, it’s made me realize that I’ve underrated paint-by-numbers all these years.

Script by Dr. Lucy Tse