Art Burn

"Art Burn" was the seventh episode of the fifth season of the TV series Daria (episode number 507). It first aired on MTV on April 2, 2001.

"Art Burn" was written by Dan Vebber.

Summary
After Mystik Spiral destroy the Lane family gazebo, Jane takes a job to pay for a new one: producing copies of great artistic works for Gary of Gary's Gallery. As time goes on, she starts to burn out on painting and gets creative block, something that worries her. She starts trying to find a 'reason' she can quit guilt-free, trying to convince herself that she's part of a fraud ring. The thing that finally causes Jane to leave the job is when Steve Taylor (not knowing she's the artist) calls one of her reproductions "hack" work that's merely "decent for the price", even pointing out some "lazy" brushwork in one place: the idea of her art being hack work gets to her.

Meanwhile, Trent tries to convince the builders to actually, y'know, build the gazebo like they're being paid to. Unwilling to be seen as the Man, he ends up joining them in mooching around: "When I look in their eyes, I see... myself.

In a third subplot, the Fashion Club go on the warpath after an artist does a caricture of them, trying to force Helen into helping them sue. Unknown to the others, Stacy is keeping the painting hidden her room - as she's the only one he drew looking nice...

"Art Burn" and Fanfic
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Trivia
This episode features an appearance by Wind Lane, Amanda Lane, and Vincent Lane: their first since "Lane Miserables". It turns out Wind once wanted to change his name to Ronald.

Claire Defoe praises Jane's art as "among the most inspired and original" she'd seen at the park's art sale... then is unable to realise Jane painted a Van Gogh upside down, something Gary does notice.

Mystik Spiral don't do cover songs. Ever.

Jane and Trent have a brief spat over the idea of selling out, with Trent taking a hard line and Jane snapping back with (sic) "stay true to your art, I'm sure you'll always have the negative bank balance to prove it". While she'd made jokes about this before, she'd not previously been serious. The spat will reappear in Is It College Yet?, where Trent, panicking at the idea she'll leave, accuses her of selling out.

On “Art Burn” the Episode
Art Burn summary at Outpost Daria

Art Burn transcript at Outpost Daria

Alternate-Universe Versions of “Art Burn”
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Alternate Canon Versions of “Art Burn”
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