The Lies We are Told about Art and Artists
by Tatiana O'Toole • About 4 min read reading time
Lie 1: The paradox of value
The concept of art is either too mysterious and complex to truly ever be fully understood whenever it serves power in money making or gatekeeping,
or
it is incredibly overblown and irrelevant whenever it needs to be dismissed or extracted from someone or a culture.
Lie 2: Art is a childish endeavor
On average, making art is silly and frivolous play for children, not for serious and good adults.
In fact, when a child stops making art, it is a positive sign that they are maturing properly as an adult.
Lie 3: Art skill legitimacy requires external validation
The natural skill must be recognized/ validated by someone in a higher status position and cannot be self recognized/ validated by the artist themselves.
If they recognize it themselves, it only has a chance of success if the individual is a white male where it will be recognized as great genius and self assurance, while most others will face social shame and accusations of delusions of grandeur.
Lie 4: To create unskilled art is shameful
Unskilled art is objectively bad and therefore not worth considering beyond shaming and amusement. Consequently anyone not possessing this natural skill should never assume to make art or they will face shame and ridicule.
Genuine and raw self expression is something of which to be ashamed because it presumes knowledge of a system in which the person participates.
Lie 5: A natural creative talent is required to pursue an art career
Art careers are fairly pointless and useless unless one is born with this natural skill and their work directly serves the current and established ruling system and hierarchy, especially in creating and earning money.
Even rebellious art has its place as long as it serves as an outlet of energy for a populous still contained.
Lie 6: Only skilled art has a message worth hearing
For art's message to be worth considering, skill must be demonstrated by the artist, and therefore, the artist's validity is based on their skill level not the value of their perspective, insight, experience, or message.
An artist must meet a subjective standard of skill excellence established by the system in order to be recognized as valid dialogue on the system.
Lie 7: Interpreting art is done quickly and with a literal, rigid viewpoint
The majority of art does not have a message beyond what can be gleaned from a surface level glance and assessment, leading to literal translations of figurative meanings.
Additionally, the perspective of the white, male gaze is prioritized in this assessment leading to female and non-white art (which again is self-expression) to be understood as lesser in value.
Lie 8: People who spend time reflecting on art are weird and presumptive
Art is to be consumed at a superficial level disregarded once the immediate discovery wears off; those who sit and contemplate art are participating in a weird, elitist ego trip and more than likely insufferably stuck up and self consumed.
Therefore, you should never presume you have the skills to fully perceive art; just enjoy the initial glance and judge from there.
Lie 9: Realism and western art are the pinnacle of human art skills and the standard by which all art is judged
Western art standards and norms are often seen as the pinnacle of talent and skill, and all artists should strive to emulate and echo these graphic parameters.
Other cultures' arts are niche and exotic; western art encompasses mathematical perfection and elitism.
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