In NY we visited the MoMA and I spent as much time watching the people as I spent looking at the art. I've decided a trip to the art museum might be the perfect screening date if you're both into that sort of thing.
An outing to an art museum allows you to judge your partner on many levels, some less obvious than others. It's clear that you'll get to find out what kind of art your partner likes, essential if you imagine decorating a home together. No one wants to wait until after the honeymoon to discover that your husband would rather have a Thomas Kinkade over the sofa than a Rothko.
You also get to find out if this potential mate of yours is capable of discussing art without sounding like an idiot or a prat. What does he think of this technique that the artist used? How does she feel about the progression of the Bauhaus movement? Can he somehow justify his terrible obsession with Thomas Kinkade? And why does she like photography so much? Is the connection personal or purely aesthetic? It's a veritable smorgasbord of prying.
But I would argue there's an additional behavioral component that's just as important as the content of the museum. You can see couples' behavior toward each other. Are you independent viewers who barely interact, moving from room to room and only meeting up at the exits? Or do you drift apart and together, fluidly checking in and discussing every second or third painting or sculpture? Or will you be one of those couples that holds hands the entire time, never stepping apart from each other for a moment?
There are other things to consider as well. Are you constant talkers or do you give quiet consideration? Are you note takers? If your behaviors are different, how do you reconcile them?
The whole time I was wandering around the museum, I was looking at the art, but looking at the people looking at the art. I kept wondering if other people noticed these things too. Were people paying attention to their partner's behaviors or not? Did they know what was happening?
I did see some great art too by the way, but that's for a future post, I suppose.
An outing to an art museum allows you to judge your partner on many levels, some less obvious than others. It's clear that you'll get to find out what kind of art your partner likes, essential if you imagine decorating a home together. No one wants to wait until after the honeymoon to discover that your husband would rather have a Thomas Kinkade over the sofa than a Rothko.
You also get to find out if this potential mate of yours is capable of discussing art without sounding like an idiot or a prat. What does he think of this technique that the artist used? How does she feel about the progression of the Bauhaus movement? Can he somehow justify his terrible obsession with Thomas Kinkade? And why does she like photography so much? Is the connection personal or purely aesthetic? It's a veritable smorgasbord of prying.
But I would argue there's an additional behavioral component that's just as important as the content of the museum. You can see couples' behavior toward each other. Are you independent viewers who barely interact, moving from room to room and only meeting up at the exits? Or do you drift apart and together, fluidly checking in and discussing every second or third painting or sculpture? Or will you be one of those couples that holds hands the entire time, never stepping apart from each other for a moment?
There are other things to consider as well. Are you constant talkers or do you give quiet consideration? Are you note takers? If your behaviors are different, how do you reconcile them?
The whole time I was wandering around the museum, I was looking at the art, but looking at the people looking at the art. I kept wondering if other people noticed these things too. Were people paying attention to their partner's behaviors or not? Did they know what was happening?
I did see some great art too by the way, but that's for a future post, I suppose.
Comments
I have to admit, I think people watching is more interesting than art...but don't tell the humanities folks that.