09-21-2013, 08:08 AM
So is art purely subjective?
I’m sorry, it isn’t. I know it’s a golden little dream that feels warm and cuddly when we hold onto it, but it simply isn’t true. Now, one’s reaction to art IS purely subjective. But one’s opinion or enjoyment of something does not affect the work itself.
It is possible for art to be good or bad; even more so it is possible for art to be better or worse. And the more extreme the difference, the easier it is to tell. If I draw a little sketch, that sketch is not as good as a Picasso piece. Even if my mom looks at it and loves it, it isn’t better. It is worse. It’s OK for my mom to like it more; that is her subjective opinion. But it would be silly of her to try to objectively claim it was better. It isn’t. That is a fact. I don’t know how to draw. Every technical aspect would be worse. Every creative aspect would be worse. Is my mom stupid for liking mine more? No. Do I look down on her? No. But is my piece better? Absolutely not.
I’m sorry, it isn’t. I know it’s a golden little dream that feels warm and cuddly when we hold onto it, but it simply isn’t true. Now, one’s reaction to art IS purely subjective. But one’s opinion or enjoyment of something does not affect the work itself.
It is possible for art to be good or bad; even more so it is possible for art to be better or worse. And the more extreme the difference, the easier it is to tell. If I draw a little sketch, that sketch is not as good as a Picasso piece. Even if my mom looks at it and loves it, it isn’t better. It is worse. It’s OK for my mom to like it more; that is her subjective opinion. But it would be silly of her to try to objectively claim it was better. It isn’t. That is a fact. I don’t know how to draw. Every technical aspect would be worse. Every creative aspect would be worse. Is my mom stupid for liking mine more? No. Do I look down on her? No. But is my piece better? Absolutely not.