Dog Philosophy: Noise, Negation, Plagiarism and Stupidity within Art Practice

There is a prevailing consensus that art and culture should be positive, creative, and affirming, that it should reflect the best of a society, especially the values of its liberal elite. This essay sets out a brief analysis of a small part of an alternative trajectory by examining the concept of ‘kynicism’, or ‘dog philosophy’ questioning principles of authority, conviviality and originality through two recordings from the independent music scene of the 1980’s, recordings which were important in shaping my own practice through the application of modes of nihilistic and ‘cynical’ approaches to creative production.