LAist: BCAM's Art Makes the Brits Say LA's Legit

savvysearch

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 21:07:18 -0800

Well, atleast give Haslam credit for not mentioning how LA has smog and breast implants. But with the Norton Simon, Hammer, Getty, Moca, Lacma, LA's art schools and artists, shouldn't an art writer from London know that LA has been an artistic hub for decades now? I think most people in the know get it, but there are still a few that are pretty sheltered about what's going on in the art world. To them, art is only NYC and London. But someone truly passionate about art knows about the great art scene in Los Angeles. It's not as annoying as GQ's food section which is shocked that LA FINALLY has good restaurants!

jrb

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 13:11:42 -0800

So Haslam feels we have no culture, no history. Yea, like whatever dude. Like anywhere else, you have to actually look for it.

Laure

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 12:33:00 -0800

Call it British humor: poking fun at (mis)perceptions of L.A. as "the city where cultural tourism means finding Britney’s house," more than criticizing L.A. for its lack of culture. Weird humor maybe, but not demeaning. And certainly not the way the NYT can be, and whose snobbery Haslam also pokes fun at, with his "The New York Times has conceded that LA is 'the centre of visual art making' in America, which must have really hurt." Call it visitor's shortsightedness, too: like many "tourists," Haslam is not quite able to grasp our sprawling city, and the many ex-centric venues that shape L.A.'s art scene -- whether it's museums, art galleries, the club, film and stage scene, and much more. L.A. culture is not just about the new BCAM, or the Taj Mahoney or Nokia Center Haslam mentions in his article. Yet if BCAM, with all its PR fanfare, gets outsiders to finally pay attention to L.A.'s status as a cultural capital, so much the better. Maybe it's time someone cranks up a *real* tourist guide to L.A. -- away from the over-beaten Universal Studios, Hollywood Walk of Fame and star maps path.

Lindsay William-Ross

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 11:47:44 -0800

I agree, db, that was the moment that just really stuck it to me with this review.

db

Sun, 24 Feb 2008 11:26:03 -0800

Saying L.A. is the shallowest city on earth is like saying London has the worst cuisine. It only shows the ignorance of the commenter.