Learning to Appreciate Fluxus
by scottrgs
I have to admit that, when we began to study the Fluxus movement in class, I had some serious doubts. I mean, just a couple weeks ago we were studying brilliant composers like Beethoven and Wagner. It’s hard to see Fluxus as something that carries on their tradition. The project of the Fluxus movement seems only even tentatively connected to music.
And yet, if I think Fluxus is absurd, the Fluxus artists probably think so too. There is a certain light-heartedness – a sense of humor, even – in this movement that is rare to find in the art world. I’m happy to say that I have a much greater appreciation for Fluxus after studying it in this course. That said, the one moment that won me over was the Fluxus performance in class. It was entertaining, silly, and in all honesty, fun to watch.
I think the success of Fluxus is its ability to connect with audiences in new ways. Fluxus performances have visual as well as aural aspects. They engage with the audience on more than just an aesthetic dimension. I tried watching a few Fluxus videos on youtube and, I have to admit, they are not nearly as interesting or fun. The emphasis of Fluxus art on live performance is, I think, essential to its nature. There is a level of connectedness that we experience during live performances that is lost to us when we watch a recording.
All in all, if we laugh at the Fluxus movement and don’t take it seriously, it’s probably because the artists themselves are laughing with us.
The Thousand-Year Ears 
I definitely see where you are coming from. As strange as Fluxus seems from the outside, as soon as we find ourselves on the inside our feelings towards it completely change. Being a part of Fluxus definitely allowed me to understand it much more than just reading about it. Fluxus is about the moment.
I think that the appeal of Fluxus lies in embracing the absurd. Just as some people find absurdist humor funny, they can find meaning in the absurdity of Fluxus. We can look at all of the weird incongruity that occurs in a Fluxus performance, and that is where the meaning lies. Sometimes we will find humor; other times we might find statements on our culture.
That being said, I also think that the live performance aspect of Fluxus is very important. it is an interactive art form, and it is necessary to be fully immersed in the experience to get the full effect.
I have never seen Fluxus live, so I haven’t experienced it as it is meant to be experienced, but from what I have seen I don’t really have much appreciation for it. Like you said, it is such a contrast to the music we have been studying – it’s hard for me to even consider it art. It seems that Fluxus performers/composers are just creative people with too much free time . . . .
I agree that Fluxus is very much about the moment. I also agree with the post above me in some aspects. I can find merit in all forms of art, but I don’t know what category of art this fits in. In part, it seems significantly more visual than other pieces we’ve studied. Furthermore, the need for live performance almost puts it in its own genre entirely.
I agree that Fluxus is very much about the moment. I also agree with the post above me in some aspects. I can find merit in all forms of art, but I don’t know what category of art this fits in. In part, it seems significantly more visual than other pieces we’ve studied. Furthermore, the need for live performance almost puts it in its own genre entirely.
I, too, have learned to appreciate Fluxus. At first, Fluxus seemed very foreign to me; I had never encountered it before and it seemed very odd. Now that I have heard several different movements, I find Fluxus to be very interesting and unique. As many people have commented above, Fluxus is definitely about the moment. I would love to hear Fluxus live!
Fluxus just as any other form has special meaning for certain individuals. Each person has his or her own tastes and thus some people appreciate the said concept more than others. Personally I am not a huge fan but I realize that it is necessary to respect and understand other peoples’ tastes. In addition, I am a firm believer in that it is imperative to try something out before bashing it. After one tastes and reflects a form such as Fluxus, he or she can make a sound opinion of it.
Although I can’t claim much knowledge of the movement, I find Fluxus very intriguing. I think some artists have a tendency to inflate their ego and take themselves a bit too seriously (Wager, anyone?). I’m not a fan of this trend.
Lighthearted, self-parody plays an important role within art, and Fluxus seems to embrace this, in addition to being plain old fun.
When we first learned about Fluxus I thought it was pretty ridiculous, in fact I still think it’s a little ridiculous, and I completely agree with your opinion that the artists themselves think the discipline is a little absurd. For me it’s just another fun and inventive attempt at conveying humanity’s creativity and ingenuity.
I agree with you when you said that a Fluxus has the ability to connect with audiences in new ways. A Fluxus is certainly something different and for me it was hard to wrap my head around the concept at first. Some of the Fluxus I’ve read about seem a little absurd at first.
I too think that fluxus is much more enjoyable live. I think that fluxus is a type of art for the “common” person and relates art to what we do everyday. At first I also was skeptical about fluxus, but as I began to watch videos about it and learn about it in class I have gained a better understanding and appreciation for it.
I do not appreciate the light-hearted humor that Fluxus supposedly entails. I view this “movement” in a similar way I view a painting that simply consists of blotches and smears.
Fluxus is very fun and something I think everyone would enjoy if they had the chance to see it performed. I find it hard to classify as music, however. It seems to me to be more of improvised acting, which I’ve always loved (Whose Line is it Anways? will probably be my favorite show of all time).
I agree that the Fluxus movement is a little absurd and that perhaps the composers thought so too. I see one goal of the Fluxus movement is to take a step back from the seriousness of art sometimes and discover the comical or more reflective side of art.
I definitely agree that the live aspect of Fluxus is essential. Watching videos of these performances did not have the same effect for me either. Also, there is no question that these works are different. However, the performance in class was intriguing. Some of the other pieces we have heard about sound like they would be fun to see performed in front of an audience.
While I can appreciate the fact that the Fluxus is creative and unlike anything I’ve ever seen before, I really don’t think I can call it music. Maybe certain performances could be, but those that are like that one where you push a piano through a wall are really just absurd. (I mean what is that??) Again, it’s interesting to see what methods people used to experiment with music and I believe that sometimes in order to discover something great, it’s necessary to think outside the box, but within reason.