I’m a big fan of both Jimmy Stewart and Carol Burnett, so this makes me very happy. (I have family in the area around Indiana, Pennsylvania, but I’ve never had the chance to visit the Jimmy Stewart Museum. Perhaps I will remedy this on a future visit.)
Five rules for viewing art, damn it, art! There’s much here that I agree with; seek silence, take your time, do some research. On the other hand, I don’t see anything wrong with purchasing postcards or posters at the gift shop. I do think the rubber van Gogh ear is a bit over the top.
This bothers me as well, but I’m not sure I can articulate why. I need to think on it some more.
He seems to subscribe to the baleful idea that “serious” art can’t be enjoyed. He seems to be suggesting that the purpose of art is to make you feel miserable.