Writing About The Arts
Some writers may think “I’m writing about the arts, so I can say whatever I feel because it’s all subjective anyway.” While it’s true anyone can say anything they want, I don’t think art commentary and criticism benefits from relying purely on subjectivity and ignoring basic principles of communication.
It’s still important for art criticism and commentary to be written well, concisely, and clearly. It’s important to have good sentence structure, form, and reasoning.
Citation and support are important. Fiction should not be presented as non-fiction. Uncertainty should not be expressed as certainty. Deference and respect should still be given.
In art, we can’t prove one artwork is better than other. Art is not science. But even though art lacks some of the objective measures found in other disciplines, there still are basic rules of writing, logic, and veracity I think should be observed.
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A worthwhile pursuit for a writer is this: To give current and future generations of readers words, language, and reasonings to disarm or counter previous generations’ often unhealthy or dysfunctional status quo.
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Often, great art doesn’t come from presenting “the one best option.” Religions often appeal to the allure of the “one best option.” Great art often doesn’t come from ideas that require you to choose one option to the exclusion of an alternative. Great art more often comes from seeing and revealing many sides, including sides seldom seen.
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The above painting by Paul Cadmus is titled “Jerry”.
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