Reading David Thomas' blog post the other day reminded me of some questions I have wrestled with for many years:
Years ago, my answers to these questions would have been no, yes, and no. However, I'm not sure my motives were pure. At the time, I was trying to be a "rock star," and I was always quick to defend my conscious decision to write "hooks." I also think that deep down inside, I really felt like I was selling out, so I was very defensive.
If you will pardon the pun, I have changed my tune these days. If I am creating purely for my own enjoyment, I still have an audience. It doesn't matter that the artist and the audience are one and the same. An audience of one is still an audience. Furthermore, some art may appeal to a large audience while other art may appeal to only a small, select audience. This does not diminish the artistic quality of either work. Of course, this leads us back to the art vs. commerce debate, but you may refer to my earlier post on the subject.
Please comment - I really want to hear your opinions!
- Can "Art" exist in a vacuum?
- Is a work of art required to appeal to an audience, even if it is only a small one?
- Is the artist who is creating solely for their own enjoyment really creating art?
Years ago, my answers to these questions would have been no, yes, and no. However, I'm not sure my motives were pure. At the time, I was trying to be a "rock star," and I was always quick to defend my conscious decision to write "hooks." I also think that deep down inside, I really felt like I was selling out, so I was very defensive.
If you will pardon the pun, I have changed my tune these days. If I am creating purely for my own enjoyment, I still have an audience. It doesn't matter that the artist and the audience are one and the same. An audience of one is still an audience. Furthermore, some art may appeal to a large audience while other art may appeal to only a small, select audience. This does not diminish the artistic quality of either work. Of course, this leads us back to the art vs. commerce debate, but you may refer to my earlier post on the subject.
Please comment - I really want to hear your opinions!
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1 comment:
dr. mike,
i wrote a whole comment reply last night and it looks like it didn't work. oh well, basically my answers were yes, no, yes. if i think about it some more i might elaborate like i did in my previous lost comment. but i'm too lazy right now. LOL
also, i went looking for that pere ubu and only found a couple albums, none were the ones you had recommended, so i decided to wait until i found those.
have you heard the new radiohead? i like it a lot. they seem like a fitter happier band now, but still sound like themselves. i'm also rocking out to the new little brother, it officially comes out tuesday, which i will buy it. one of the members of the group "leaked" the album himself with a note asking for people to please go out and buy it attached. it's great music.
anyways, i been meaning to write you. how are things???
--money05
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