Okay, in my attempt to blog more, I’m really reaching and bring to you an artsy debate that some will like and others will turn, running and screaming to the next website they can quickly click to…
So, yesterday I’m reading the paper and there’s an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette about the Carnegie and a visiting artist (Mark Manders) who finds his art in ordinary objects. I’m with ya there, no argument, no problem…then I read his quote:
"If I write a sentence, you think exactly what I want you to think," Manders says. "The viewer reconstructs objects."
Oh, Mark, really? If merely putting words to paper meant an exact meaning was conveyed we wouldn’t have any "gotcha politics," that always ends up with a candidate saying "Oh, no, I wrote/said that, but it’s not that way, not what I meant." Kids all over America would earn perfect verbal SAT scores, and emails missing the context of the writer’s facial expressions, etc. wouldn’t result in the writer being fired for being insubordinate or simply an asshole.
No Mr. Manders, your art is not so different than the written word. But, perhaps, that’s not what you meant.
BTW, I love this whole orientation of art as ordinary things–just as writers take ordinary events and make them seem extraordinary. Same act, different medium and even though the tone of my post says different, I’m really not offended on behalf of all the writers in the world. It just seems that way.
Happy Thursday everyone…
What an arrogant asshole. He assumes everyone thinks like he does and has similar ideas and experiences. Idiot.
Hey anti-wife…I love your indignation! It’s funny, because I bet if he sat down to talk, and thought about it, he wouldn’t actually say that’s what he meant. But, maybe he would. If so, he’s a bit narrow…benefit of the doubt and all that! Thanks so much for commenting. It means a lot.
The cynic in me also thinks he may be implying it is somehow easier to write than to do his art. Bullhooey!
And, by the way, one of the joys of reading fiction is painting a picture in your mind of the characters, setting, the scene. I guarantee no two pictures look alike.
Susan, that may be the case–there are so many servicable writers in the world (maybe not great, but writing is something people use all the time and feel somewhat comfortable with) that it doesn’t seem like such a big thing. Same with the act of reading. Did you know that, psychologically speaking, the act of reading is as intricate as conducting a symphony? It’s just because there are so many proficient readers in the world, we don’t give creedence to it. Likewise, art is something people think they can or can’t do, there aren’t that many artists in the world, and most of us can easily go a week without drawing a picture (I realize that’s the narrow def. of artist) that when someone actually appears on the scene as an artist, with his work in hand, it’s an amazing thing to behold…I think it’s easier to assume writing is a simpler endeavor…perhaps that where he’s coming from? Maybe I’m totally wrong. That never happens..hehehe
My use of likewise–wrong usage…sorry typing fast…not thinking…