metropolitan museum of art

[UglyBug]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 8:41pm

Now it's not that I'm not a big fan of museums or anything, I think they can be perfectly interesting and what have you, but I've visited The Metropolitan Museum of Art twice now and I'm just not that impressed. I'm not from NYC, though I will be attending college there soon, and I can't just go hop over to the museum whenever I like, so I was probably there for a couple hours both visits and then quickly moving on somewhere else.

Annyway, here are the things that annoy me about the museum: half of it is not in fact art (there are a lot of pieces taken out of their historical context... just because it's pretty and/or ancient does not make it art), the curators/workers are ridiculously snooty (at least the ones I came across who were always standing against a wall with a sneer on their face), and they (the people running the museum)are too busy complimenting, for one, themselves on their 'superb' exhibits and secondly, their generous benefactors than giving good details on what they are actually showing. (I realize they have the audio headsets but one shouldn't have to pay extra money to get more information beyond '8th century gold medallion'). I'd like to know more about the significance of what they are showing, not just whether it's gold or perhaps from the 15th century or goddamn pointilisim. Anyhoo, don't get me wrong. They've got an impressive collection of art and some really interesting displays but I guess I'm just a lowly plebe who's mind is too small to be enlightened by the place. Superb cafeteria, though.

And as a sidenote, on my trip I also enjoyed Chicago (Charlotte D'Amboise is so cute) and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (of course, Norbert didn't show up for the performance I went to which made me cry because he was secretly the one I wanted to see most but I loved John Lithgow, Sherie Rene Scott, and Gregory Jbara). So I think I'll be seeing it again when I come back in two months.

[BroadwayGirlWicked]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 8:43pm

yea been there Norbert is hot

[lamentingenvelope]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 8:53pm

Aww, I'm sorry you didn't enjoy yourself. I had a marvelous time at the Met and can't wait to get back. Yes, I do agree with you about the majority of the staff being snooty - but I did have a wonderful conversation with a woman in the gift shop about Seurat and Sondheim. (I was buying a print of 'Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jette' and she inquired if I'd ever heard of 'Sunday in the Park with George'...)

However I do disagree with you about some of the historical items... just because it isn't paint on a canvas doesn't mean it's not art. Maybe I'm too sentimental... I didn't get much of a chance to explore the historical stuff (we were on a limited schedule and I spent alot of time wandering around the 19th century French paintings... mmm, impressionists) but what I did see was obviously carefully crafted so it was beautiful... which in my opinion makes it art. But to each his own.

[BroadwayGirlWicked]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 8:55pm

I saw crossing the Deleware and we waited around for an hour till they opened that exibit becouse that one opens later

[lamentingenvelope]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 9:06pm

I saw two Seurats and was in a room full of Degas - it was heaven.

[nmartin]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 9:25pm

I love the Egyptian exhibit at the Met. Also, I like to go to the roof garden and have a drink. I've not been in NYC since '98,but when I come back around Christmas, I'm sure I'll go to the Met and MoMA.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 9:28pm

I'm very exciting about going to the MoMA. It was closed each time I've been to New York.

I enjoy the Met, but I understand the comment about it losing its magic when it's taken out of its original context. That's why I prefer "preserved" historic sites that try to maintain the original feel more - you get a better idea of what life was like, and how the art and artifacts were used and appreciated.

[Corine2]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 9:54pm

I'm sorry you didn't enjoy the Met.
I have been a Patron for years and love the place.
Did you get to go to the Chanel exhibit?
I am sorry you didn't enjoy my favorite museum in the City.
;-(
I also love the Museum of Modern Art, The Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Broadcasting.
Also worth seeing is the Museum of Sex, if you are over 21.

[cturtle]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 11:55pm

i want to go LIVE at the met, like those two kids in THE MIXED UP FILES OF MRS BASIL E FRANKWEILER. i would be perfectly happy there! breakfast every morning in the MONET room ... watching the sun set behind the TEMPLE OF DENDUR ... heaven.

[Corine2]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 11:57pm

It is a beautiful museum.
I could handle it.
Breakfast with Matisse sounds chic.
How about some Manet, Monet.
OH LA LA!
Updated On: 6/14/05 at 11:57 PM

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 6/13/05 at 11:58pm

The Met is one of those places that I feel like I have to go to every trip. Can you believe I only had ONE HOUR there last time I was in New York?? Their Egyptian exhibit never fails to impress me.

I'm looking forward to finally seeing the renovated MOMA though. Is MOMA QNS now closed, or just substantially scaled down?

[BlueWizard]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 12:05am

The Met is a bit overwhelming, and some of it IS quantity over quality. I find a trip to the MoMA much more enjoyable, especially now that they've renovated.

[Elphaba]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 9:32am

MOMA and the MET are two totally different collections, it is like comparing apples to oranges........
One is almost all modern art, one is everything.
Both are world class collections.
I prefer the MET as I am not that big on modern art.

Updated On: 6/14/05 at 09:32 AM

[SallyBrown]

Posted: 6/14/05 at 9:45am

The last time I went to the metropolitan museum of art, I was seven years old, and of course, at 7, I laughed crazily at the jokes made by my father about the naked men.


Now I really want to go back, because I remember enjoying it at 7, imagine how much fun I'll have 7 years older!


I also remember buying this Egyptian necklace kit at the gift shop...and it never really worked...


Yeah I definately need to go back. Maybe this summer, when we bring my cousin to NYC..