ART IS DEAD Lyrics

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About

Genius Annotation

This piece is Bo’s reflection on the state of art in the modern world, and how the commercialization of art and profit-driven industries have hijacked and monopolized creative expression. The song is about the idea that the need for attention is a vice and an addiction that is, unlike other vices and addictions, not only tolerated, but encouraged in the modern world. The song ends with the narrator telling the audience not to worship or revere him because he is just a person, not worthy of their praise.

On the CD recording, Bo introduces the song with the quip, “this song is honestly not funny at all, but it helps me sleep at night”. This is a reflection of Burnham’s guilt towards his own career – by writing this song he relieves the guilt that indulging in the creative industry causes. Burnham writes this in the hopes that, by informing the audience of the true nature of his show and the industry it belongs to, he will be less guilty of the moral crime he is accusing himself of committing.

Q&A

Find answers to frequently asked questions about the song and explore its deeper meaning

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