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Home > Expos > Event 7 > Page 56
TOGETHER AGAIN▼
TOGETHER AGAIN
[The Caretaker - Libet's Delay]
Herr
"I remember that wonderful sunny weekday. I was on the beach...selling fabrics...."
Madam
Madam sighs as Herr rambles to himself above. She and two new artists have been waiting for Zookeeper to arrive.
Madam
"The new person running the front desk isn't very good at their job." She mumbles to no one in particular. "I'm just here to deliver a letter and not only is the Zookeeper not here, but you people are waiting on meetings with him."
Madam
Maybe, there was a short moment of care or anger, maybe even envy, but just as soon as it flickers forth, it is snubbed out. She takes a long drag of her smoke. "But I suppose that is none of my concern."
2024-12-29 14:50:08
Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:09:58

Herr's voice turns from filling the room to a low mumble, as it becomes clear no one is listening to him. It is moments of silence when the elevator dings. Everyone in the room expects the Zookeeper to appear as the doors open, but instead a tangle of wires pour forward like liquid through the doors.

Barley Bonekeeper
Identical to the ones of the machine they arrange themselves into Barley. "Ah, sorry I'm late for my appointment."
Byrel
Byrel's shoulders straighten up as the elevator opens, she opens her mouth to speak but goes quiet again upon seeing who stands in the doorway. After a brief pause she grunts, "Oh, welcome. Not to worry, we are all waiting on Zookeeper. Take a seat."
Byrel
Her position slouches as she looks back to Herr, intent focus as she tries not to stare.
Zion
Zion would curiously look the way of the elevator, as anyone would do when someone new enters in an occupied environment. The cluster of wires grips his attention for a brief second before he processes that it was someone totally unfamiliar. He sits a bit still.
Barley Bonekeeper
"What is this, a group meeting?"
Madam
"No. I'm sure the new front desk doesn't know how to change the date on scheduling."
Barley Bonekeeper
"Ugh. I can't believe everyone has to be here to watch me crawl back to my dad."
Barley Bonekeeper
"I recent spoke to the legendary artist, Bones, and learned that....art is kind of shit."
Byrel
"I've come here to ask some questions about a job offering but, it seems his schedule was a bit more crowded than anticipated. I'd assumed most of you besides Herr were here for the same." She scratches her head.
Zion
"Art," he mutters to himself briefly. "Hoping to get a project or two under my belt now. I admit this is all still so foreign, yet new. A bit more orderly than my last job."
Barley Bonekeeper
"I feel.....a little duped by art."
Byrel
"..." She shifts awkwardly as Barley's comment and slightly more towards Herr. "Are you all artists?"
Barley Bonekeeper
"I thought art was supposed to be something special. Something you really had to put your heart and soul into."
Barley Bonekeeper
"But...it turns out......no one cares as long as it's pretty."
Zion
He turns to Barley, a slight air of interest in his body language. "Is that true? If so, how do you know?" His question comes off a bit interview-y, but there's a small glint in his emotes.
Byrel
2024-12-29 14:58:25
Byrel Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:11:36
("Ah...one of these types.") She speaks up, "I wouldn't speak of art so rashly. The ugliness of life can capture just as much of the heart as any carefully created no? I don't think that's quite true."
Barley Bonekeeper
"Because I did nothing but put my heart and my soul into my work and no one cared! I thought, art had to be special. I thought Bones was this sort of........" Barley motions widely with his arms. "Special artist. That it was all about the art you know? But....."
Barley Bonekeeper
2024-12-29 14:58:48
Barley Bonekeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:12:02
"It turns out, if you make something pretty, no one cares." Barley pulls out a blockmon. A creature invisible to those with machinal eyes like his own.

"Zaaarp!"

Barley Bonekeeper
2024-12-29 14:59:19
Barley Bonekeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:12:24
"I spent 30 years of my life working on blockmon and I've gotten nothing out of it. Everyone says it has no soul."
Barley Bonekeeper
"A piece of mass produced trash has more soul then the work I spent 30 years on!"
Zion
"Is art not inherently special if you put your feelings into it? I thought those things about art were what made them even more valuable. Even the most visually dull of art can speak truths if the artist has put their heart and mind to it, that's all I've spent attempting to figure out."
Barley Bonekeeper
"It's only special to you. To everyone else your art isn't more special than art someone said they put their heart and soul into."
Barley Bonekeeper
2024-12-29 15:00:30
Barley Bonekeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:13:42
"I feel so duped. Spending all that time trying to get away from my dad. Trying to make 'special art' like Bones did.....No one really cares how you feel or your inspirations. You can just lie."
Byrel
"And what art that is special to you? Does the individual not have agency to bring a value into this world simply through notion? Can art not be made to simply be of the individual if from the heart?"
Byrel
"You cannot tether yourself to your idols. I am no therapist but it sounds you have issues with-"
Zion
"Do you surmise that you failed because your art is ugly?"
Byrel
Byrel gives Zion a weird look, "Let's. Not throw around words. It sounds this one is looking for feedback."
Barley Bonekeeper
"I can't even see my art."
Barley Bonekeeper
"I depend on others to value it for me."
Barley Bonekeeper
"And they have valued it with no soul."
Zion
2024-12-29 15:04:10
Zion Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:15:02
"Forgive me. Certain situations have left me a bit... blunt.

"But still, there's nothing wrong with asking honest questions, whether they hurt or not. I just want to understand, because I feel a similar dilemma."
Byrel
"...I suppose I can empathize greatly as well. Art is...a complicated phenomena."
Byrel
"But, you make work you specifically can't see? Does your artistic soul call to the unobtainable? The unknown? What do the eyes of others see that cannot be seen by you? Besides your work, of course"
Barley Bonekeeper
"I made art because I believed in art."
Barley Bonekeeper
"I believed it could...do more than what my dad thinks!"
Barley Bonekeeper
"I left this place to follow "art." Blockmons were supposed to be the future of art that could provide money and value to me, but I could have just worked here and gotten "better" art done."
Barley Bonekeeper
2024-12-29 15:06:54
Barley Bonekeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:16:20
"Blockmons would never have an impact. They don't help artists, they don't help viewers, and they especially haven't helped me. I was duped into believing art had to be this.....big....special thing."
Barley Bonekeeper
"Art can just be a pretty picture that earns you money, and nothing more, and nothing is wrong with that."
Barley Bonekeeper
2024-12-29 15:07:29
Barley Bonekeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:16:58
"That is basically what Bones' told me."
Zion
"Are you sure it's just because your art isn't pretty and "soulless"? Perhaps soulless is one thing, but ugly? Is there not a market for those type of things? Do you feel as if all your worth is tied to your art, since you failed, do you feel worthless?"
Barley Bonekeeper
"Art doesn't have a soul!"
Zion
"Is a lack of self worth not indicative of it being special? You have the emotions to give art worth, I assume. Do your failures lie purely with others opinions over your own efforts? Or is it both?"

He takes a moment, crossing his arms to think.

"Sorry. Realizing my questions are a bit invasive."
Barley Bonekeeper
"I always knew the term soul was wrong. Everytime I heard "My art doesn't have a soul" I....felt a hunger within me."
Barley Bonekeeper
"A need...for a soul for my art....."
Barley Bonekeeper
"But, it turns out soul just means "I don't like your art but I want it to sound like it's a fundamental problem with YOU." Art NEVER has a soul. It only has a feel. And you can fake a feel."
Zion
"Art can't not have soul, in the case of most other artists. That would've made my journey to find what gives art purpose, meaningless, as I feel a lack of soul in my own art, but oddly not with others. Unless this is the "assigning your own self-worth to your art" that you are talking about."
Byrel
"Agreeing with the other here, soul is simply conjecture of an inspiration and mind taken through art. Even the most banal comes from a place of genuine joy or pleasure, it may be in your best interest to search for that happiness before making overarching generalizations." She takes to the side of Zion. "Your art goes beyond your body and mind, but you must weigh your own judgement in its existence beyond others."
Zion
"Perhaps what I want to know is, does the artist need to have a soul to make art with it? Do you have a soul?"
Barley Bonekeeper
"I don't know if I have a soul....." Barley pauses, trying not to linger on his primal need to understand souls. "But it does not matter in art."
Herr
2024-12-29 15:11:23
Herr Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:19:45
Herr skitters down from the ceiling. He pulls a cloth from between his exoskeleton plates. The cloth depicts a landscape scene in wonderous details. One can barely pay attention to the monster holding them when they see the artwork. "I have created these fabrics in my own time, knowing that they will not be used......there was a time I made these for work, to sell. They did not feel as real as they do to me now."
Herr
"It is...just sad that I had learned only when I got to the top that I did not want to make my art for the machine."
Barley Bonekeeper
"Cool story. Scanning....."
Byrel
"Soul is intention, as long as you find a fuel to share a feeling maybe that's all you need. A feeling for yourself, for another, or even just wanting to bring something only you can create. Focus on what makes you happy with...art."
Byrel
"...You've worked here quite a while, is that right Herr?"
Zion
"What about those who have no emotion to put in their art? Is emotion required?"
Barley Bonekeeper
"Emotion is not required for art."
Barley Bonekeeper
"We all agree that Herr's fabrics, are art, right?"
Byrel
She wanders slowly over to the fabrics, gazing over them up and down with wonder. "...I would say so myself, yes. It was a labor made with their own claws."
Zion
"Yes."
Barley Bonekeeper
Barley claps together his hands, and as he pulls them apart, a fabric just as amazing and detailed as Herr's work is pulled from his hands.
Herr
"An amazing piece. Where did you get it?"
Barley Bonekeeper
"I made it." The fabric shifts in his hands, as if alive. "By scanning your work and making another one based on that."
Herr
"Wait, so you just made that?"
Byrel
"...Are you mean to say it's a duplicate?"
Barley Bonekeeper
"It is better than a duplicate. It is an evolution. My art doesn't look like Herr's work, but it is using his work to make something new. Something people will look at, and say has a soul." The fabric opens its mouth at the seems and grasps around.
Barley Bonekeeper
"It is also techically a giant leech but ignore that for a moment. I haven't figured out how to make pieces that aren't alive."
Zion
"Ah." He looks at Barley's then Herr's.

"It's beautiful, truly." He pauses to look up at Herr. "When you made that piece of art, what were your thoughts? How did you feel?"
Herr
Herr doesn't comment on Barley's "evolution" he is both amazed at how it looks, but also unable to put in words the "unease" it gives him. "I felt many things. I thought of my home, before I became....what I am now."
Herr
"I thought of my sister, and the beach I once walked. In this corner of the piece you can see there is unease dreached in it, surrounding that beach. I did some terrible things there. Made terrible deals with good people....."
Barley Bonekeeper
"It is very pretty, but no one wrapping themselves up for bed would care about that."
Herr
"You're not supposed to sleep in it."
Barley Bonekeeper
"Well, when you sell it, you can't tell people what to do with it."
Zion
2024-12-29 15:18:15
Zion Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:22:24
"If they did or didn't, he would care. As Byrel said, what gives art soul is intention and emotion.

So what about yours, what's the emotion and intention behind your piece?"
Byrel
2024-12-29 15:18:34
Byrel Profile
Posted by ID #87
Last edit: 2024-12-29 15:21:30
"To take someone's work like that is...I cannot say much even of its beauty." She looks to Herr. "Soul, or no soul, or what have you, Herr very much obviously had intent and a memory to put into his work. One of intensity, of passion, or....I cannot speak for an artist's work but art as an outlet..." She stares down Barley, waiting for an anwer to Zion's question.
Barley Bonekeeper
"I used to think like that once."
Barley Bonekeeper
"I don't have soul OR intention behind my work!"
Barley Bonekeeper
"I made a pretty picture, to earn MONEY!"
Barley Bonekeeper
"And there's nothing wrong with that!"
Barley Bonekeeper
"My intentions if that's what you want to call it. Was to make something that would sell. And this would sell!" ("If it wasn't a giant leech.")
Byrel
"Do you truly, find no issue or empathy in the work of another's? Speak of your own work, but to profit under the emotional intimacy within someone's piece...."
Zion
He hums to himself. "You're right, there is nothing wrong with making art to "just sell", your art is pretty, an amalgamation of inspiration from another. But it is not your own, right? You copied it, there is little twist to that art. It is essentially an abomination to what art is, rather than art itself."
Zion
"Which isn't to discredit that you can't make art at all, but rather, it didn't even attempt to be more than a blatant derivative. A bad example, I feel. It does not express your own work ethics or thought process through creation.

You said art has no soul, that it's feeling can be replicated, but then why is there a gap between your art and Herr's? What memories and experiences are reflected in your piece?"
Barley Bonekeeper
"Heh, tell me my work is an abomination of art. But people have been calling other people's work abominations for ages. I bet you cameras were called abominations too."
Barley Bonekeeper
"What is art?"
Barley Bonekeeper
"It's a bunch of made up words that are only a "feel." If someone writing their signature on a toliet bowl someone else made can be called art, then why not what I make?"
Barley Bonekeeper
"You don't think my art is "art" because it has "no soul", but that just means, you hate it and its lack of meaning."
Barley Bonekeeper
"But, someone out there could care less what my meanings are, and will call it art."
Byrel
"And...what of the artists you siphon from? What of Herr? What of the loves and passions that proceeded this art?"
Barley Bonekeeper
"Currently. None of my concern."
Byrel
"What of your idols? What of your blockmons? What to you is the arts of others? A commodity? A waste? A lack of nuance and context, that can only be made within the vacuum with another? Your art does not need soul to be art but...what of you? Where are you within art that is not You?" She steps forward, very visibly frustrated.
Barley Bonekeeper
"That's a lot of cool words. But I've seen what being an artist is like."
Barley Bonekeeper
"Being alone. Making work that impresses you, but everyone else hates because they cannot see your vision."
Barley Bonekeeper
2024-12-29 15:28:16
Barley Bonekeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:24:46
"Being poor. Ignored. Disliked. Everyone saying it "has no soul.""
Barley Bonekeeper
"Fuck being an artist."
Barley Bonekeeper
2024-12-29 15:28:35
Barley Bonekeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:24:59
"I want to be employed."
Zion
2024-12-29 15:29:08
Zion Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:25:37
"Art is subjective, but I feel its worth is less on the eyes of the beholder and more on the eyes of the creator.

My friend-- er. They loved my art. Told me it was beautiful, why waste time wondering why my art felt different if other people loved it? It made them smile, but I still sat there and created mindlessly. That's all I know how to do. Make; not feel, but that didn't mean that I didn't want to understand it more. Does the question of what makes real art real no longer entertain you? I'm curious. Do you believe your experience speaks for art in general?"
Barley Bonekeeper
2024-12-29 15:29:29
Barley Bonekeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:25:51
"I don't care about the worldly implications of art. I used to. I used to make art that was going to "better everything" and "take down Zoocorp.""
Barley Bonekeeper
"Who the fuck cares about that if you're going to suffer?"
Barley Bonekeeper
"Don't worry. I won't stop you "artists." Continue to make your "art" but I'll be here without a "soul.""
Barley Bonekeeper
"All of you can continue to have your work judged by things that do not exist. I'm done with my blockmons being ignored and being poor!"
Byrel
With a firm hand, her gemmed fingers sink slightly into the wires. "Then make something that brings peace to YOU! Find closure within YOUR work! The art of OTHERS is not for YOU! And you...your weird insecurities! You're an artist as long as you want to be, but don't steal from, other artists!"
Barley Bonekeeper
"Fine. When I join Zoocorp again....."
Barley Bonekeeper
2024-12-29 15:30:50
Barley Bonekeeper Profile
Posted by ID #87
Last edit: 2024-12-29 15:31:22
"All the art fed into the machine will be art I'm allowed to use."
Barley Bonekeeper
"And then you will be ok with it? After all, the art is the right of Zoocorp."
Zion
"Are your feelings of failure not indicative of purpose in your failed project? You created something, because you wanted to convince yourself that you could be better than your dad, but you 'failed" to reach your goal, and now ascribe all of art as only being as worthy as money makes it. Does that not make your failed art, "art"? Is there no soul of grieving and frustration behind that project, even if those feelings came well after execution?"
Byrel
She does not let go, watchful at every little expression in the room. From Zion, to Herr, to Barley, to Madam. The light of Barley's screen shines gently against her jaw as she waits for an answer.
Barley Bonekeeper
"I already told you. My failure made me realize I was trying to reach a goal that was fake."
Barley Bonekeeper
"Absorb my words with your speakers man! I always wanted to be popular and liked!"
Barley Bonekeeper
2024-12-29 15:32:30
Barley Bonekeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:27:29
"I thought the way to be that, was to go against Zoocorp, to grab the people who hated him. To be different, and to show that art was more than just a normal job."
Barley Bonekeeper
"But art IS A NORMAL JOB AND IT SHOULD BE TREATED LIKE ONE!"
Barley Bonekeeper
2024-12-29 15:33:02
Barley Bonekeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:27:50
"An artist and a cashier are both workers. They both put "feelings" into their work. We put artists on this big pedestal like they're special but...."
Barley Bonekeeper
"All it does is hurt them!"
Barley Bonekeeper
2024-12-29 15:33:24
Barley Bonekeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:28:17
"Because if you're not a "special artist," if you're not "putting your soul into every hour of work," you're a "bad artist.""
Barley Bonekeeper
2024-12-29 15:33:39
Barley Bonekeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:28:45
"Why do you think a lot of artists are depressed? Feel as if they're worthless, alone, and a failure? It's because artists are "special jobs" and only "special people" can be artists and if you're not a "special person" you can never be an artist. And to add insult to injury, you won't know you're a "special artist" until you make money."
Zion
"But you were hopeful it would yield something bigger. Something more than money, a personal purpose.

Your art went above just money; it had motivations that were personal. I don't understand. You say art has no purpose other than what money and the buyer give it, but all the experiences you detail from yourself contradict that, in my opinion."
Barley Bonekeeper
2024-12-29 15:35:06
Barley Bonekeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:29:07
"Consider this. My other goals don't have to be connected to art."
Barley Bonekeeper
"In fact, it is not only unoptimal, but wasteful to connect them to art. Sure I COULD connect them to art but I can tell my dad I don't like him without making art no one cares about and suffering while making it."
Barley Bonekeeper
"Maybe I should have considered writing a firmly worded letter?"
Barley Bonekeeper
"You know, words are art too!"
Barley Bonekeeper
"Everything is art."
Byrel
"..." Her firm grip adjusts to a palm, flat on Barley's "shoulder" as she sighs.
Byrel
"...That's, that's right. Everything is art, and that makes art no more special than anything. From mining, from doing paperwork, from driving, or even doing merc work. And that's OK. That's OK too, you can make statements with all of these things. Because it's not that nothing is special. It's that everything is."
Barley Bonekeeper
"It's not special in that everything is equally special."
Barley Bonekeeper
"A """Thinking Soul Filled"""" artist has a place in art. And so do I. A cashier with feelings and a happy smile has a place at their work station, and so do I."
Barley Bonekeeper
"The people will decide if I replace you at your stations, or if I'm a tool to assist."
Barley Bonekeeper
"Good luck. I don't care either way."
Zion
"Will you make a piece of "art" for me if I ask, even though you hate being an artist?"
Barley Bonekeeper
2024-12-29 15:38:30
Barley Bonekeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:30:54
"I don't hate art. That was an over exaggeration. I just think art isn't special, and I hated spending years in torture thinking it was. I'll make you your art."
Barley Bonekeeper
"And I'll make it so fast, it'll make your head spin."
Zion
2024-12-29 15:39:31
Zion Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:31:15
He holds out half a metaparxi pelt. "It was all I could recover after they died.

It's not particularly sentimental, but I am curious as to what you'll make with it."
Madam
2024-12-29 15:40:38
Madam Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:32:01
Madam perks up at the sight of the pelt. The machine had reacted very "aggressively" towards Tibia, but no one is sure why. Instead of just "removing more of them" it had crushed, ripped apart, and spat out Tibia. Perhaps it did not know what to do with a cekeki and a Zookeeper both "together." Madam herself had been far more grievously injured than most cekekis who jump in after all.

"Are you sure you want to do that? I don't think you will get what you want out of that pelt and Barley."
Zion
"I have not feelings or qualms with what he'll make."
Madam
"If that's the case, why do you want it?"
Madam
"Why not feed him a piece of blank paper, or a random scrap of fabric?"
Madam
"You clearly want something out of this. Something alive."
Zion
He hums. "Maybe. I feel like perhaps it would be more interesting with Tibia's pelt. Maybe I miss them. What do you think, good lady?"
Madam
"You're just going to get hurt chasing after someone that is dead."
Barley Bonekeeper
"You people are way too sentimental."
Zion
"I think... I'll be ok. You don't have to worry about me. I wouldn't say I'm chasing after them. Maybe something to honor them, but whether I had asked or not, I wouldn't have cared either way."
Barley Bonekeeper
"I remember being like that."
Barley Bonekeeper
Barley takes the pelt, smashes it together in his hand, and holds out a new, living creature made of the pelt.
Barley Bonekeeper
"Looks good to me. Isn't this a perfect piece of art?"
Zion
He looks at it for a long, long moment, attempting to process it.

"It is very interesting. Cute. Would appeal to a very specific demographic of people."
2024-12-29 15:44:19
Profile
Posted by ID #2
Last edit: 2025-06-26 17:04:11

Barley closes his hands again, another "Tibia copy" made. This one is more loose. Its fingers mangled. From far away, all seems fine, but close up its clear the "creature" is artificial, fake, a poor copy and wrong.

Barley Bonekeeper
"Now that I have the data, nothing can stop me from making an endless amount more."
Zion
"This one's cute, looks just like them."
Zion
"I will have to come back with more pelts in the future, then. I think they would've hated this thing and called it ugly, but it is part of them now, so like father like son. I will hold onto it."
Madam
"I suppose these are not as bad as they could be....."
Zookeeper
Zookeeper walks past the group. The commotion disguising his entrance before. "Eh, I'm not feeling it."
Barley Bonekeeper
"What?"
Zookeeper
"Just looks like an animal to me."
Zookeeper
"I have no idea why you people had a whole argument about what's art and what isn't. The conversation is moot. You're making animals, not art."
Barley Bonekeeper
"An animal can be art."
Zookeeper
"That's great to hear Barley, but I don't count it as art."
Zookeeper
2024-12-29 15:47:14
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #87
Last edit: 2024-12-29 15:47:33
"All of you are going "art is this, art is that, art is anything." Sorry folks, but art is in the eye of the viewer, not you! The second you look away, it's up to the next viewer to decide if it's art or not."
Zookeeper
"And I wouldn't feed your loser mutated animals to the machine. I mean, it wouldn't even consider it art! It'd turn them into a masterpiece or a cekeki."
Zookeeper
"If it ain't art to the machine, it ain't art to me!"
Barley Bonekeeper
"I.........I can never win."
Zion
He's a bit quiet, standing at the sidelines of the two as they talked.

"I guess this is a situation where it feels like he will never win, but I find his experience slightly illuminating, even if it doesn't answer all my questions."
Zookeeper
"Look, lets keep this simple. What the artist feels about an art piece, only matters to the artist. What the other viewers feel, only matters to them."
Zookeeper
"If you draw a table and call it an artistic depiction of a meg, that's quirky, congratulations, but no one cares what you think. It's clearly a picture of a table being called a meg for some reason."
Zookeeper
"Artists are always going about their feelings. Like sorry! If you post your art in public, the viewers are going to have their own feelings about it and there's nothing you can do. If they say it's soulless, or isn't art. Oh well! Find a new group to market to."
Zookeeper
"Gosh. Artists are so emotional."
Zookeeper
"That's what makes them fun and quirky!"
Zion
He looks between the two, folding his arms against his chest and turning his head from the two. "Even if other people feel differently about art, isn't that the whole point? Even if the original meaning is lost or overshadowed by other people's interpretations, that shouldn't dictate the original intent of the work, right?

Opinions will always be subjective, but that doesn't mean the original meaning doesn't matter, because without that meaning, the art wouldn't exist to the caliber that it did."
Zookeeper
"It doesn't matter."
Zookeeper
"What are you going to do? Follow everyone around, telling them what your art means?"
Zookeeper
2024-12-29 15:51:07
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:35:15
"When your art is sold, and it changes hands over and over, your art is its own thing. Its meaning is its own. Sure you existed down the line, but unless anyone goes to find you to ask you about it, it doesn't matter! And, even then it doesn't matter! Imagine if someone found great meaning in your art, only for you to say it's something simpler. Sorry buster, but that person can just ignore your feelings and do their own thing."
Zookeeper
2024-12-29 15:51:39
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:36:01
"There's this one famous artwork of this woman that people keep talking about the smile of, but in reality, it's actually a failed undelivered commission the artist made that he hated!"
Zookeeper
"His hate? Irrelevant. The woman it was for? Ignored. The commissioner? Forgotten! It's about a smile now, baby!"
Zion
2024-12-29 15:52:23
Zion Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:36:55
"But people still create in spite of that. They make things that make them happy, that resemble their sadness or anger, their content or displeasure. People always argue the meaning or value of art, regardless of if the art is famous or not, but some artists still make in spite of the original meaning or emotions of their art being lost. Is that not important? If there were no emotions to certain art, then would that art have been less than a passing thought? So many pieces of art wouldn't have existed if it "didn't matter.""
Zookeeper
"I'm not saying your creation process doesn't matter. Artist make the best art while just in terrible mental states!"
Zookeeper
"I'm just saying most people don't care after it's made."
Zookeeper
"That's why agruing what is art, is silly! We need you nice and emotional for your art pieces but we don't need to emotional about it afterwards. Afterwards we need the crowd to be nice and emotional!"
Zion
He hums to himself in thought for a minute.

"That... makes sense." His words sound a bit unsure, but he couldn't seem to find any reason to argue against the point made.
Zion
"I won't question it further, at least not here, you are the boss after all, so if you say it's so, then I suppose it is..."
Zookeeper
2024-12-29 15:54:16
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:37:35
"What's on your mind, huh? You sound dissatisfied with reality. Is it disappointing to hear that all the emotions, love, and care you put into art just is an image people like?"
Zion
"Not dissatisfying, no. I already know that, but that doesn't mean I don't want to look and find something deeper. That's why I ask artists what art means for them."
Zion
2024-12-29 15:54:56
Zion Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:38:15
"I already know there are objective truths and subjective opinions. You can't disappoint me more than I'm already with myself. But still, I want to understand the emotions that go into making art powerful, a medium that invokes feelings and intrigue. Telling me "It doesn't matter because it just doesn't," won't mean I'll take that as my truth.

The whole point of me being here was to find out for myself."
Zion
"So, whether you're right or wrong, I'll find that out in my own time."
Zookeeper
"I'm not saying it doesn't have meaning in general, the opposite. Just that your meaning is your own."
Zookeeper
"And how much worth you put into your meaning, is also your own. Some people use that to care about other opinions, others do not. I'm just saying it sounds like a waste of time. An endless conversation. I'd save your time and just take your own outlook as reality."
Zookeeper
2024-12-29 15:56:04
Zookeeper Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:39:03
"But don't worry! I already know this is "part of the artistic experience." Artists love arguing about art, and viewers love watching others argue about the absurd. In the end, your emotions just make your art more interesting to look at."
Zookeeper
"Now is there any reason for this 3 way meeting or have you all gotten what you needed out of yourselves?"
Barley Bonekeeper
"I wanted a job here. I'm done trying to be counter culture and poor."
Zion
2024-12-29 15:56:55
Zion Profile
Posted by ID #107
Last edit: 2025-07-24 06:40:28
He smiles a little, muttering under his breath about how Zookeeper's words remind him of 'something I would've told myself during my office job.'

He awkwardly looks away, though. "Just came to see what projects are available for me to undertake."
Zookeeper
"Someone really needs to teach you to use our online assignment pickup system. You know how much time would be taken up by assignment dishing out if I did it myself? Really are you sure you just didn't want to see little ole me?"
Zookeeper
"As for Barley, I don't have any use for you if you can't make art."
Zion
"Yo- You're giving yourself too much credit..."
Zookeeper
"How cute of you to keep coming over, asking for assignments, and pretending you don't know how to use the computer while being a machine just like me. You're terrible at playing coy. I don't know what you really want from me but you better spit it out instead of making yourself look like some dumb himbo."
Zookeeper
"Than again, maybe we can sell that kind of branding?"
Zion
"Fine-- I'll figure it out myself. I won't protest to using my likeliness, if that's what you want. Is it so bad to be intrigued by... myself?"
Zookeeper
"While not bad you're better off just being more direct. I'm open for mental explorations but time is money so be direct, you hear?"
Barley Bonekeeper
("Man this is weird.")
Barley Bonekeeper
"Hey, so is there no chance for me to get a job here?"
Zookeeper
"Barley, what am I going to do with a bunch of animals?"
Barley Bonekeeper
"I dunno. Make them into artists?"
Zookeeper
"............................................."
Zookeeper
"There's no way your messed up creatures could ever count as people."
Barley Bonekeeper
"I can make them intelligent." Barley shrugs. "Don't see how they couldn't make art then."
Zookeeper
"Infinitely generating artists making art......"
Zookeeper
"What's the catch? Other than their hands being fucked up sometimes?"
Barley Bonekeeper
"I'd like to be put into the machine."
Zookeeper
"Back into the womb, aye?"
Barley Bonekeeper
2024-12-29 16:03:08
Barley Bonekeeper Profile
Posted by ID #87
Last edit: 2024-12-29 16:03:15
"Please do not say it like that."
Zookeeper
"I mean, who am I to deny your right to go back home."
Zookeeper
"You ARE the machine. Just one that decided to go on some hipster blockchain quest that ended in failure."
Zookeeper
"So jump back in. Rejoin the machine now that you're done having your little phase and soul seeking quest."
Barley Bonekeeper
Always with that word. Souls souls souls. There's nothing in the world Barley wanted more than one of these stupid non existant "Souls" everyone keeps talking about.
Barley Bonekeeper
"I found out on my soul seeking quest that souls don't exist."
Barley Bonekeeper
"I've been duped. Lied to."
Barley Bonekeeper
"So don't talk to me about soul seeking. There's only one thing I care about." Barley mutters as he approches the colorful opening of the machine.
Barley Bonekeeper
Barley sticks a wire into the machine, watching as it spins and is dragged deeper. "And that's getting the attention and power I deserve."
END OF EXPO
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