【eroticization of violence】

Art Decider has finally decided its art is eroticization of violenceat an end.

Announced in a tweet on Tuesday, the beloved novelty account has decided it will no longer arbitrate what is and is not art on Twitter, leaving it to the huddled masses to discern meaning for themselves.

"I’ve decided that The Art Decider will end today," wrote Art Decider, which is run by New York actor and writer Michael Tannenbaum. "I see this as a happy occasion since I’m able to end this project on my own terms."

Active for over half a decade, Art Decider was a Twitter account with one simple premise: Decide whether something was "art," or "not art." Posting its simple assessments free of judgement, the account eventually gained over 200,000 followers, with people frequently tagging Art Decider under tweets to request arbitration.

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"I started the account in September of 2015 a few weeks after finding out that the job I had at a TV show would no longer exist for season 2," Tannenbaum told Mashable via DM. "It was a project that meant the world to me and I had been working on it previously for years. I was heartbroken that I wasn’t able to see the show till the end.

"In my depression I knew that I needed something to take my mind off of it, and I wanted the project to be as positive as possible. Eventually I came up with the Art Decider."

Art Decider acknowledged and appreciated the meaning in otherwise throwaway tweets, which seems like a positive concept that could continue indefinitely. Even so, Tannenbaum believes it's better to end on a high, before either his or his audience's interest wanes.

"I felt that I took the concept as far as I could take it. I would much rather end this project a little too early than a little too late," he said.

"I think that a lot of creative projects are rightfully judged by length. We see this beyond the arts, very often in the world of sports. That the method and timing of ending something can make or break how people view it in the future. Without naming any person or project in particular it doesn’t take people too long if you ask them to name someone or something that should have 'ended a long time ago.'"

Tributes and well-wishes have quickly poured in.

I lost count of how many times you brightened my day with such a fearless and fun account. You made my real life better, not just my twitter life. I wish you the best of luck with your next great ideas, I'm sure they will be plentiful. Thank you so much

— Ned Pyle (@NerdPyle) June 8, 2021

Thank you for your awesome, always delightful decisions! 😀👍

— Josh Weinstein (@Joshstrangehill) June 8, 2021

you’ll be missed my friend ❤️

— WeRateDogs® (@dog_rates) June 9, 2021

Art ❤️

— Valter Skarsgård (@ValterSkarsgard) June 8, 2021

Carrying on its mission of positivity to the end, Art Decider's farewell thanked everyone who supported the account and encouraged followers to donate to charities Trans Lifeline, The Innocence Project, and RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network).

"Those three charities represent just a small fraction of the people that deserve to be uplifted, who deserve better treatment online/offline and who these social media companies have continually failed," Tannenbaum told Mashable, noting that said companies often don't protect the safety and wellbeing of marginalised people on their platforms.

"They care more about engagement dollars than the protection of their users," he said. "Anyone who spends more than five minutes on this platform knows that Twitter and all social media contain some of the worst that humanity has to offer."

Fortunately, where there is darkness there is also light. Tannenbaum shared that he experienced some wonderful moments in his time running Art Decider, such as proud parents showing off their children's artwork, fledgling artists hoping for reassurance in their chosen career, and people posting pictures of their pets.

"I have been fortunate to have seen some of the most wonderful pieces of art, the most touching creations and kindness that makes my heart burst," he said. "The act of lovingly sharing something to someone else. It’s a beautiful thing."

Art Decider also caught the attention of comedian Hank Azaria extremely early on, a moment of particular significance to Tannenbaum.

"The Hank Azaria tweet was so special and became my banner photo because he replied in such a kind way when I only had maybe two thousand followers and I was not 'climbing the ranks' of Twitter quickly at all," said Tannenbaum. "I grew up like anyone in the 90's watching The Simpsonsbe the gold standard of comedy and that inspired me to really go the distance."

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Art Decider has grown significantly since then, even winning a Webby Award in 2020. Tannenbaum told Mashable his notifications were pinging with people asking for the account's verdicts even as he was wrote up his farewell tweet.

"I’m grateful to everyone who participated," he said. "It’s a vulnerable thing to ask someone what you think of their work. I don’t take that lightly. People were showing me personal works everyday for years."

Though Art Decider will certainly be missed, Tannenbaum won't be starting any new online projects just yet. He's excited to take a "major break" from social media instead, and spend some time playing the new Pokémon Snap.

In the meantime he leaves the internet in our care, and encourages people to keep demanding a "better digital world."

"It’s only going to grow and become more powerful," he said. "That power can either be used to create a kinder world or an alternate that is unthinkable."

Art.