Art (Dilbert episode)
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| “Art” | |
|---|---|
| Dilbert episode | |
 |
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| Episode no. | Season 2 Episode 18 |
| Guest stars | Chazz Palminteri |
| Written by | Scott Adams Larry Charles Ned Goldreyer |
| Directed by | Linda Miller |
| Production no. | 205 |
| Original airdate | November 9, 1999 |
| Episode chronology | |
| ← Previous | Next → |
| "The Dupey" | "Hunger" |
| List of Dilbert animated series episodes | |
Art is the 18th episode of the Dilbert animated series. It originally aired on November 9, 1999.
While trying to paint along with a TV painting show, Painting with Rusty Shanks Dilbert skeptically declares that the entire art community is a giant scam, which is supported by the art teacher being forcibly taken off the air on live TV by goons. Dogbert decides that art might be a good line of work to be involved with.
Then, at a meeting at work, while trying to determine what new direction to expand in, the Pointy Haired Boss decides that art would be a good field to expand to, seeing that art is very similar to engineering. After attending an art show hosted by Sister Wanda Beaver and talking with Dogbert, Dilbert decides to ask a focus group what things people like, and makes a work of art that combines everything. The resulting picture is a simple picture of a blue duck.
Meanwhile, Dogbert decides that his new artwork will be selling dirty laundry that has been framed and marketed as high art. By taking clothes out of a local laundromat he also owns (including stealing Asok's underwear and offering to sell it back to him), he opens a very successful art gallery.
Dilbert’s blue duck takes the art world by storm; in only two weeks it becomes the most successful artwork in human history, capturing 99% of the world art market, pushing museums to closing (and the Louvre to running a furniture upholstering business to stay alive). Dilbert is hailed as the most famous artist in the world and a hero of the company, although he has misgivings about his incredible success.
He begins to discover that his newfound fame is hollow, as the people who like him only like him because of his fame. While out on a date, he is abducted by goons (like the ones who kidnapped the teacher at the beginning of the episode), and Dilbert is introduced to the secret ruler of the art world: Leonardo da Vinci. He reveals that he discovered immortality centuries ago, and that there is a secret "five families of art", which rules the world of art. Dilbert is awed to meet one of his idols, and discovers that the only way to undo the damage of The Blue Duck on culture would be to taint it with "uncoolness". The Pointy Haired Boss inadvertently helps, by accidentally having his nauseatingly flabby belly, painted with a Blue Duck design, broadcast on national TV during a major football game. Quickly, the Blue Duck falls from popularity and is removed from most places it is displayed, as life returns to normal, and Dilbert returns to relative anonymity.
[edit] Trivia
The blue duck reappears in episode The Return as a piece of art on the post office wall, and showed up even before this episode in Dilmom's house as a lamp stand.
