The r/trippinthroughtime subreddit has been capturing the imaginations of redditors far and wide since the late summer of 2013. In the years since, it’s become a major congregation point for everyone who likes to have a good chuckle and has a certain soft spot for paint, old books, and a dash of sociology.
You can tell that the sub loves to have fun from its description of itself alone. “In historic art pieces depicting multiple humans, there is a law that at least one of those humans will look like they have no clue how or why they got there. It's like Where's Waldo, except instead of looking for Waldo you're looking for the dude that looks like he just dropped acid.” See? We told you.
The moderators who keep the subreddit’s ship sailing smoothly recommend that the folks posting memes should also add the era, mention the historical event, and give a general indication of what the source of the painting is.
That way, anyone who’s been awed by the beauty of the art itself can Google their way into more knowledge. What’s more, anyone who’s interested in the historical background can do their own research far easier than if everyone keeps the sources secret.
Shelby Bercume, a former Florida art gallery director and an expert in all things art, previously explained to Bored Panda that, in her opinion, accessibility and a more empathetic approach are vital when it comes to getting more people interested. Many people find art history “intimidating and difficult to grasp” because it’s not a subject that’s often taught in schools.
"I don’t necessarily think art history is an inaccessible entity, but I know that people tend to feel intimidated by things they aren’t experts in. Since art is often, if not always subjective, it feels even more intimidating than a subject with a 'right answer,' like math for example. I think often that leads to a disconnect between the desire to dive into the subject of art and by relation art history, and the execution of it,” the art expert told Bored Panda during an interview.
Art should be as democratic as possible, the expert shared. It shouldn’t be exclusionary. Everyone should have access to it, no matter their education. No matter their background.
“Art is something to be enjoyed and shouldn’t be reserved for an exclusive group," the former gallery director said.
"Art is aesthetics and feelings. If you love something, voice why you love it... if you can’t find the words, that’s ok! Talking about art is really discussing how the art affects your emotional state and what thoughts it provokes," the expert told us.
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