Manufacturing Reputation: No Conspiracy Theory
Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1, James Abbott McNeill Whistler. Source: Wikipedia 1. The Authority of the Speaker In Bean: The Ultimate Disaster Movie , Mr. Bean is invited to the United States because he has been mistaken for an eminent British art expert. Asked to speak about Whistler’s Arrangement in Grey and Black No. 1 , better known as Whistler’s Mother , he offers what sounds like an observation of extraordinary simplicity: the painting is impressive partly because it is large, since if it were small, hardly anyone would be able to see it: “Well, firstly, it's quite big, which is excellent. Because if it was really small, you know, microscopic, then hardly anybody would be able to see it, which would be a tremendous shame.” The audience listens and applauds. The joke depends on a simple fact: they believe they are listening to a distinguished authority. Had the same remark come from an unknown visitor, the reaction would almost certainly have been different. What...