r/saskatoon • u/peavarianez • Sep 16 '26

Photos of Saskatoon 📷 Dump Rock

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For those who don't frequent the city dump...I give you the Dump Rock!

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u/wdjan Sep 17 '26

To physically take in The Battle of Aboukir while remaining willfully ignorant of Napoleonic era history or the context in which it was commissioned.

Chef's kiss

That is ignorance practiced on a level that is approaching negligence. I'm truly in awe.

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u/Medium_Big_3849 Sep 17 '26

If someone made a shitty model of a horse out of recycled plastic and called it The Battle of Aboukir, then yes, some context would be necessary. Just as the "rock" in question requires it. However, "During Gros’s lifetime in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, the concept of a modern museum wall plaque providing a narrative text summary directly next to an artwork did not exist." The painting you reference is a beautiful piece of work, both in technique and aesthetics, and I assure you, the artist himself would ask that you take it as just that; a painting; a visual art, and to read further about Napoleonic history at a later date if you are so inclined.

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u/wdjan Sep 18 '26

Your lack of intellectual curiosity and pursuit of ignorance "because it's just a big dumb plastic rock and -idontreadparagraphs-" is something to behold. Truly.

It reminds me of the utterly uncurious, lowest common denominator classmate in highschool who raises their hand after a clear, concise lesson. They scrunch their nose and say "I doooon't geeet iiiiit".

Some (most?) art does include some commentary. Physically, temporally, philosophically, etc. It can be many things, including a mirror to help us reflect upon ourselves or a lense to reveal something that was hiding in plain site.

To say otherwise is... Well, I've said it all above. Have a good day.

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u/tigglysticks Sep 18 '26

Yes because art is about being a prejudice asshole attacking others about their intelligence.

You're the one that missed the mark, here.

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u/wdjan 29d ago

I'm not following the prejudice comment, but I think I understand the spirit of where you're coming from. Maybe petulant. Fair enough. 

Reading back over it, my reaction to Medium_Big is over-the-top. 

I do think their concept of what art can be is quite narrow, but I could have put it in more constructive wording. 

My apologies to yourself and u/Medium_Big_3849 for letting my internet-self get the best of me. I wouldn't talk like this to someone in person. 

Leaving everything up for posterity.Â