Stories of Almost Everyone (slyt)

April 9, 2018 1:10 PM

Will Ferrell and Joel McHale visit the Hammer Museum. There is modern art. It is appreciated, and the piss is taken. A good time had by all.
posted by Guy Smiley (27 comments total)

I've never heard of this museum and was at first disappointed that it wasn't a museum full of hammers. It was amusing though, so I enjoyed it.

I'll admit that I'm an uneducated slob who don't know shit about shit, but I see a museum like that and I think "ok, they're just fucking with us, right?" Because, well, I mean, c'maaaaan. They gotta be fucking with us, right?

ok, upon reading wikipedia it looks like there's more to the place than what they've shown, but still... they gotta be fucking with us.
posted by bondcliff at 1:38 PM on April 9, 2018 [6 favorites]

Disappointed at the distinct LACK of Peter Cushing, Christopher Lee, Oliver Reed and female vampires in sheer negligees at this "Hammer" museum.
INDEED.
I shall be unsubscribing from your newsletter forthwith.
posted by Major Matt Mason Dixon at 1:51 PM on April 9, 2018 [16 favorites]

I imagine that, in common with most museums, there are lots of signs to the effect that... you can't touch this.
posted by zamboni at 1:55 PM on April 9, 2018 [33 favorites]

I love Will Ferrell's initial reaction to the pillow. That quick take glance reaction.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 2:05 PM on April 9, 2018 [2 favorites]

Yeah, they certainly focused on some of the more out-there work so they could make a funny video and that works because the video is pretty great. But it's worth noting that the Hammer is a fantastic contemporary art museum with a strong (and rare) focus on emerging artists, and it's director Annie Philbin is one of the smartest and most thoughtful museum directors on the planet.

So, yeah. If you happen to be in LA, and you like that sort of thing, don't miss it.
posted by The Bellman at 2:15 PM on April 9, 2018 [4 favorites]

Hee, this has been traveling through my museum circles with great glee. The Hammer does a lot of challenging stuff and also focuses on emerging artists, but they also have a collection of things in the Old Master category. ALSO they have a great ping pong table and an excellent hanging out courtyard space.
posted by PussKillian at 2:17 PM on April 9, 2018

"Is this one of those... relaxation tools? You know, like a white-noise machine?"
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:18 PM on April 9, 2018 [4 favorites]

I really, really enjoy the grin on McHale's face as he's filming the piano with his phone, and Ferrell asks if it's intended to serve as a relaxation device.
posted by Ipsifendus at 2:19 PM on April 9, 2018 [8 favorites]

They gotta be fucking with us, right?

Certainly, but it is a gentle, affectionate fucking.
posted by bonehead at 2:19 PM on April 9, 2018 [4 favorites]

In conclusion, ceci n'est pas un suitcase.
posted by Lyme Drop at 2:20 PM on April 9, 2018 [3 favorites]

I enjoyed this. They had fun with it but not in hateful ways.

I love art museums and art but it doesn't have to be super serious. I'm glad the Hammer went this way because it helps make art more accessible.
posted by fluffy battle kitten at 2:27 PM on April 9, 2018 [3 favorites]

> I'm glad the Hammer went this way because it helps make art more accessible

Yes! I like going to art museums despite knowing nothing about art, and I appreciate that they're showing how you can go and just accept it. Or not. Just go. Maybe you'll find some art you want to bite.
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:31 PM on April 9, 2018 [2 favorites]

I think "ok, they're just fucking with us, right?"

A lot of great contemporary art actually is what online trolling always pretended it was.
posted by maxsparber at 2:34 PM on April 9, 2018 [17 favorites]

I love the meta-joke/point that McHale can't decide if the art was getting 25 guys to bring in a telephone pole or the piece itself.
posted by bonehead at 2:44 PM on April 9, 2018 [8 favorites]

I'll admit that I'm an uneducated slob who don't know shit about shit, but I see a museum like that and I think "ok, they're just fucking with us, right?" Because, well, I mean, c'maaaaan. They gotta be fucking with us, right?

It turns out that the question of what is and what isn't art is of great fascination to artists and the subject of much debate and experimentation and boundary pushing. Who could have guessed?
posted by Nerd of the North at 2:48 PM on April 9, 2018 [2 favorites]

Are you fucking with me?
posted by bondcliff at 2:54 PM on April 9, 2018 [1 favorite]

Did you push the button or flick the switch?

FUCK.

(loved it)
posted by Edward L at 3:02 PM on April 9, 2018 [12 favorites]

I imagine that, in common with most museums, there are lots of signs to the effect that... you can't touch this.

I remember, about a decade ago, seeing a work at LACMA that was three concentric spinning wheels with words printed on them. I idly gave them a spin, because it seemed the thing to do.

The security guard did not like that. There should have been a sign. :(
posted by Guy Smiley at 3:42 PM on April 9, 2018

Although I too wanted to see some hammers, the "purple pillows used only by acrobats'' just had me in stiches.
posted by qsysopr at 4:48 PM on April 9, 2018 [2 favorites]

I'm a visual artist. I mostly make large scale conceptual installation art and taught art and design at a few different art colleges for over 15 years. I just have to say that I do not understand so much modern art these days. I just don't get it. I miss craft.
posted by misterpatrick at 5:06 PM on April 9, 2018 [1 favorite]

This was so delightful!
posted by hurdy gurdy girl at 7:12 PM on April 9, 2018

I think the title of the installation is the key to the whole thing. Its an invitation to view these objects with the "what story is being told here?" question already in your head. The art, to some extent, is what happens in your head when you look at the pieces with this question in mind.
posted by Joey Michaels at 7:19 PM on April 9, 2018 [2 favorites]

It was indeed a hoot. In fact, I MIGHT upgrade it to 1.25 hoots, as I am not sure if it rates a full hot and a half.

I also concur with Joey Michael's interpretation, FWIW.
posted by Samizdata at 9:49 PM on April 9, 2018

I went to the Shoe Museum and it had shoes. Truth in advertising.
posted by RobotHero at 10:41 PM on April 9, 2018 [1 favorite]

This was awesome. And I enjoy taking the piss out of this sort of art, but I have to say that piano was one of the coolest things I've ever seen and I want to record it.
posted by mmoncur at 10:49 PM on April 9, 2018

1. this was terrific. Curiously, the 'better' pieces kind of do what they are supposed to - the pillow gets them to scoff, but the telephone poles start a conversation. And the mail was fucking great! And potentially very fucked up! Which just makes it all the more great!

Armand Hammer, benefactor of the museum, was a very wealthy man who made his money... in oil. Sorry, not hammers. He was a friend of the Soviet Union and all around interesting guy whose museum has this great reputation. This was all win.
posted by From Bklyn at 1:48 AM on April 10, 2018

I'm sorry but the real Hammer Museum is in Haines.
posted by Foam Pants at 2:44 PM on April 11, 2018