Let’s Talk Opinion in conversation with Writings of a Mrs
“…that you were not engaged with us because of your person; because of the parody of work that you display as “art” are a taint to that which is pure and true.” – anonymous
This was the message, sent to Writings of a Mrs by fellow artist that had seemingly supported her work on previous occasions. No wonder that this turn of tide had caused her shock and, dare I say it, pain. She chose not to disclaim the name of that writer, but instead to post an article that invited others to consider the meaning of art. How do you define art?http://writingsofamrs.wordpress.com/2013/10/23/what-is-art/comment-page-1/#comment-6583
This was is my reply to her question:
Art just is. Anything we give meaning to is art. And, as writers, poets, photographers, artists – meaning is what we create. Art does not become non-art because someone chooses to declaim it as such. To deny meaning is not art. To create it: is.
This is for you.
Do not be pained
Words do cut deep, but wounds:
We wear their scars with pride.
Be unrestrained
Find meanings new to weave
Against this senseless tide.
Remain untamed
By those who wish you silent.
Their wishes don’t abide.
Be art unframed
And let your poem’s canvass
Against them be your guide.
*
Let’s Talk Opinion posts engage with issues that are important to other bloggers, connecting with others on matters close to their heart. If you like a topic and would like to contribute, please feel free to add to the comment box, reblog, share, email or message me on Twitter @shardsofsilence.
Or if you happen to be a fellow Hogwartsian send me a letter by owl.
Thank you. Beautiful poem.
Thank you, Jennifer. It was heartfelt, and I am so glad that it helped that day. I hope this was a one-off incident, but if anything like it happens again, I will have my quill at the ready 🙂
owl off sick today – waiting for healing potion to take effect so I’m responding by internet magic instead – I love “Art just is.” so true! What I always try to remember that when it comes to art, opinions are never wrong. I might like a painting because of its colours and “movement” but the person next to me may hate it because it is abstract. Neither of us are right or wrong. An opinion is an opinion. I have learnt this the hard way – you should see my Rejection Slip file….
Ah yes… rejection it seems has become an integral part of our lives, but then rejection is only one’s opinion expressed, and as you so well said: an opinion is an opinion. 🙂
PS: Send my regards to your owl. I wish her well. Try some tea with a dash of whiskey – works a treat for mine 😉
Art is a feeling, a song, a thought, a sense. To each, art is personal. To share art and have it appreciated is magical. Un-shared art does not declassify it as such though. To define art is to attempt a capture of molecules of oxygen.
Thank you, Ray. Beautifully expressed. “To define art is to attempt a capture of molecules of oxygen.” – I like that, and very much agree.
Art is the ability to articulate Soul no matter medium in which it’s portrayed
Beautiful. Thank you.
On my most recent poem a nice person told me that she would only object to my last line if it wasn’t true. As it would be inauthentic.
I tell stories, and write about what I want. It’s not necessarily the truth of my own situation that is being told. I was writing about a fictitious subject while playing with a bit of satire. As I leadin with talking about the emotional poems I read here on WordPress frequently.
And ended up at Afroman, Because I got High, lol…
I suppose you didn’t like it either, since you didn’t “like” it. 😉
Anyway, not that she said it wasn’t art, but I don’t really understand why she would think it’s somehow “inauthentic”. It’s what I wished to say right then. And that’s as authentic as it gets.
I mix in truth or fiction quite clearly. I surely hope no one thinks I am Captain Jones on the Madison before the Battle of Trafalgar. As that also is not “authentic.”
C’est la vie.
Thank you Kavalkade. This is a very interesting question. What makes art authentic?
There isn’t one final definition of the term in any case. I think your reader referred to “authentic” in its first sense: (1.) Conforming to fact and therefore worthy of trust, reliance, or belief: an authentic account by an eyewitness.
But this is a restrictive definition of the term, since it refers to facts, and appears to bypass subjectivity.
She certainly couldn’t have claimed for your work to be inauthentic in the second sense, since that equates authenticity with originality (i.e. something not plagiarised): (2.) Having a claimed and verifiable origin or authorship; not counterfeit or copied.
So… since your poetry and prose are original creations then, whether they reflect the real or the imaginary, makes no difference to their authenticity.
I am almost tempted to say that all original art is authentic. Am I opening a whole different can of worms with this I wonder.
PS: I will try to find the poem, unless of course you’d like to lend a helping hand and send me the link 🙂
Thank you.
That she would limit herself to one definition and then disagree with me on the authenticity I find contrary to my own sense of art and freedom of speech.
She is entitled to her own opinion however.
I am not an absolutist, and find no value in “piss christ” for instance.
Art is in the eye of the beholder. And I rely on my own Supreme Court Justice’s opinion in further matters. “I know it when I see it.” LoL. 😉
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/I_know_it_when_I_see_it
Yes, my plan is to farm “Likes”. 😉 I am also disappointed you cannot recite my poem back to me!
http://wp.me/p3NHOl-12n
Oh, I am now Klouting on Klout!
http://klout.com/#/dashboard
Are you about on Klout? I thought I saw you, but can’t find you now. Klouts search app sucketh mucheth.
Then you must have liked the picture I attached to the post: Art is Freedom” (borrowed from Jennifer’s article.
I like your adaptation of the saying “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder” to “Art is in the eye of the beholder”. It inadvertently equates Beauty and Art – of which I certainly approve 🙂
Thank you, Kavalkade.
Goodnight Art! 😉 (Yes! I am that cheesy!)
Now I’m really really really really going to bed. I have to warm up to going to bed… Cause there’s always something else to do or say…
OK, gnite.
I thought your poem deserved a poetic reply, so here it is 🙂
On Rock-strewn shallows
Swept away
Dusk sprays
Until the end of time.
A path that stole
You presence hence
Awaits my footprints’
Dizzy spells…
PS: Yeah, found you on Klout. Trying to add you to a list. But it only shows Victoria Briggs on search, and not vicbriggs. Stupid app…
I’m not fully sure how that works 🙂
It pretty much sucks. It’s their programming algorithm I assume. It seems not to pull up people below a certain klout even when I want to add them…
And there’s no other way to put you in a list. I tweeted them about that yesterday. Maybe they will fix it, haha.
It’s midnight here though. Just tweeted to you and Stevie, haha. And heading to bed.
Good night – busy morning for me, but will try to get back to those tweets come lunch, and by then we’ll have you back from the world of slumber into which you now succumb 🙂
I’m on even terms with slumber! I succumb to nothing and never admit defeat! I #Krew on my own terms!
zzzzzz huh? zzzzz snore….
I can’t seem to sleep past 7 AM no matter what time I go to sleep, haha.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tZQQGX24Teg 😉
Gnite, Gday, May London be sunny, and your favorite cockney warm!
Thank you, slumbering poet.
I bid you goodnight
On even terms
Of course 😉
I’m a rebel and haven’t logged off yet!
That is a lovely song to fall asleep to. Go get your zzz’s, rebel 🙂
I’m kinda hungry…. LoL…
Always hungry for art, for no matter how much beauty is ours, there is always an appetite for more. Hubris – the human condition.
I ate dinner at 4 PM though… I’m actually hungry… haha. rumbly tummy.
I just had to tweet a large account right after I liked their video and they told me #salute fam.
You can guess how that went down. haha.
Blocked as per #krewrules! harsh but fair. Anyone can check out my #krewrules right on the hashtag.
Culinary art is often overlooked in conversations about art, and yet, food too can delight us when it moves from the realm of the habitual to that of creativity. And, unlike most other forms of art, it has the added advantage of including all of our senses. We see, smell, touch, taste, and even hear when engaging with it.
You may have brought up the issue without intending too, driven by bodily needs, and yet I think this point is a very important one, and I thank you for contributing it to the discussion 🙂
LoL. I’m going to microwave some noodles…
I’m not much of a cook. boy scout merit badge though! So I can burn the meat and potatoes ok.
I do like to watch Iron Chef every once in awhile though.
This is Art: http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&frm=1&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=w__ConMlt57E5M&tbnid=LdJmES6tZQwBYM:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http%3A%2F%2Fedu.warhol.org%2Faract_supersize.html&ei=zQt6Uv_7CcWY1AW7kIHoBQ&bvm=bv.55980276,d.d2k&psig=AFQjCNH2GptaN1QMBLgeTKoRBgJGA3Wrzw&ust=1383816442326298
And this too, whilst of a different epoch, is art: http://www.londonfoodfilmfiesta.co.uk/IMAGES/Stilli2_small.jpg
Human beings have been making art of their everyday needs since time immemorial. Even cavemen used it as an inspiration to create art: http://www.laboriechic.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/lascaux12x.jpg
OK, guess I will actually go to bed now, pretty tired.
Lovely poem. Our comments seem out of order due to how threading works, haha. They have fallen out of my bubble and I cannot tell in what order to reeply.
I have a fairly broad spectrum of what I consider art, as compared to the puritans (conservatives around the US, haha).
I think this is the most wonderful part about art – one cannot pin it down to one single thing.
I revisited poetry this morning!
Captain Jones is heading back to Toulon.