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The Artist Decides The Core Message; Not You

Don't mistake personal meaning for creative authority.

By The Rogue ScribePublished 2 years ago 8 min read
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Credit: Una Laurencic

Art.

A powerful word all on its own, and one that’s given far more significance through our personal interpretations.

Some art allows us to perceive things from an angle we didn’t consider before. Other times, it may allow us to discover pieces of ourselves. Then, there’s the kind of art that has no real deeper meaning; it’s just something that’s pleasing to the senses.

I'd like to think most artists can agree with this idea: once their work is released into the wild, it's open to interpretation by default. Frankly, I see nothing wrong with that. Where art and its creator begin to suffer, is when the line between personal interpretation and creative authority are blurred together.

Let me explain why this is.

I’ve been an artist for over 20 years and used several mediums to achieve different goals. Some of my art was made to drive strong points across, sometimes just to decorate a room, and other times I used art to relieve stress. I’ve painted, written stories, composed music, sculpted, etc. I began making my work public on different websites and galleries to get some feedback and build an audience. Whenever I received some criticism, it was often aimed at the techniques or mediums I chose, maybe even something to do with the anatomy of my subjects. But the viewer always respected the core message whenever they were made aware of it.

Likewise, I always valued their personal interpretations and they often granted me the things I needed to make better work in the future.

Back then, it was a simple transaction. Nowadays, things are unfortunately different.

As years passed, censorship and "cancel culture" became more prominent in the media for reasons I'm not going to detail here. It seems no one is safe from their twisted judgment and incessant need to have the last say. This is why I’ll go ahead and use them as target practice because if there's one thing they can't touch is creative authority; something that only the artist possesses.

By “them” I'm referring to the “moderators”, the bots, and algorithms keeping us safe from ourselves… Along with the intolerant, narrow-minded critics of artistic fundamentals.

Art Is Subjective

For this hypothetical example, let’s say an artist paints a valley full of yellow flowers. When asked what the intended meaning behind it is, we discover that yellow is the artist's favorite color; hence the yellow flowers.

Simple enough, right? Well, now let’s add a bit of complexity to the mix.

Now, let’s say that a group of individuals ponders on the painting for a little too long and unanimously decides to “cancel” the artwork because yellow isn’t just associated with optimism, but also with madness. Based on their personal interpretation, they have decided that the use of yellow is insensitive, therefore it conveys the "wrong" message.

This sparks a hypothetical debate between those who defend and those who decry the color. Somewhere in the background, there may be a few indifferent folks who take neither side. They all take their stance, grab their righteous indignation shields, and go at each other with piercing questions such as “why weren't they painted pink instead?” or “why do you eat mustard if it’s yellow?”.

Meanwhile, the original meaning of the image is now somewhat irrelevant in the eyes of everyone involved, and what started as a simple painting of yellow flowers has now been distorted into some sort of monstrosity.

A bit of an extreme example, sure. But it’s not too far off with all the limits others are imposing on something that’s meant to be as free as the air we breathe. Now, a counterargument could be that because art is a way of expression, is it fair to say that how the artist decides to deliver the work can contribute to how it’s perceived? Perhaps.

Now taking that into consideration, shouldn’t the consumer also be aware that art is a free medium, therefore there should be no expectations prior to its enjoyment/criticism? So where’s the compromise? Where is the middle ground between raw artistic expression and filtering one’s creative engine to appeal to the masses?

That could be a topic worth exploring later on at the dinner table.

Here's another one. This happened some time ago on one of the Instagram accounts I manage. They decided to reject the promo because it was "sexually suggestive".

I just have one question: what is "sexual" about a clown trying to fix a burning car? Where is the focus here? Plus, don't even get me started on how anything and everything can be sexualized by anyone with a vivid enough imagination... So, where is the line drawn exactly? I requested a review only to be shot down again.

So, as the artist, my core message means nothing now?

Acceptable vs. Unacceptable Criticism

I’ll be the first to admit that whenever I listen to a song and pay close attention to the lyrics, I don’t necessarily have to know its core meaning to begin picking certain verses and make them apply to me. That’s what makes art special. It’s one of the rawest methods of expression there is, and rightfully so. Art is and should remain a free medium that can reveal many things about the world around us, about ourselves, and even about the artists themselves.

However, when did it become acceptable to take our personal interpretations and start convincing others that the creator must’ve “known” about the feelings and thoughts they would provoke by releasing their art into the world?

Okay, there may be some artists playing with subliminal messaging and whatnot. But how would you know that’s really the case without the artist explicitly describing it as such? That may be your opinion and you’re entitled to it.

You may have a different understanding and feelings about the work, and that’s wonderful if you want to spark some dialogue about how you, as an individual, think, feel and perceive things.

What’s not acceptable is to take your perspectives and project them onto others as “law”; especially the artist. Unless it has been explicitly defined as such, your personal interpretations are just that: personal. Your point of view may not be what the artist intended to convey and you shouldn’t pretend like it is, unless that’s what the artist says. That’s as far as that transaction goes.

Let’s examine the previous example of the song once more.

Can you imagine how ridiculous you might sound if you began tearing apart every verse of a song and turned the original narrative into something which the artist didn’t intend to convey? What if someone took your favorite childhood image and perverted it to the point where others are now gazing at elements that were only meant to be glanced at? Take the Mona Lisa for example, one of DaVinci’s most recognized pieces.

When I was a child, I was terrified of it and I’m sure I wasn't the only one. I denounced this painting as horrifying, blood-curling, and anyone who didn’t agree was just “blind”. (Mind you, I was like 6 years old.)

Decades later, I can now appreciate it on a completely different level. I find a certain kind of peace by looking at it. In retrospect, I can laugh at myself for ever letting a canvas impact me in the way that it did.

Now, if you read the history behind the painting in association with what DaVinci originally intended, you’ll realize that it was, more or less, a portrait of someone’s wife. That’s what it is at its core. Therefore, it would be foolish of me to ever change that. In the world of art, for anyone to take their personal perspectives and use them to warp the core message is where lines get crossed.

Here's another example of terribly sensitive censorship. This came from another Instagram account I manage and was sent in by a fan trying to share an image of SPAGHETTI to his story. This is what he got:

Apparently, pasta bowls are violent and hateful. Beware.

Inevitable Controversy

In closing, you can interpret art any kind of way you want. It might hurt you, inspire you, press you to take action, etc. I’ll go as far as saying that it’s expected to move you in some way and to get you to think and feel on your own. What you need to grasp is that unless you’re the one holding the brush to the canvas, you don't get to decide what the artist meant… And that’s okay.

You’re not required to like an art piece or its core message. You’re not required to agree with the artist, so long as you understand where they’re coming from. That’s the point of art, for the most part.

It’s not always meant to be scrutinized the same way we do medical reports, political campaigns, or any other serious topics. And because it’s so raw and often unfiltered, it will often stir some controversy depending on when it’s released, how it’s delivered, and even who creates it.

Truth is, when speaking of the spectators, the collective always wins. Depending on which side you happen to be on, this might be a good or a bad thing.

The goal here is to understand that art is just like any other tool; you’re the one that gives it a purpose. The artist’s intent should be your ultimate reference point whenever you think you might be going a little bit off the path. It's your responsibility to stay grounded and enjoy art for what it is, not for what you thought it should be. The same can be said for life in general.

I’d like to end things with a simple question:

What do you see here?

art
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About the Creator

The Rogue Scribe

Writer. Narrator. Author of 'The Art of Patience, Gratitude & Courage'.

Challenge the world, go rogue with me, and subscribe to support my wordsmithing.

To read my uncensored articles, head over to: https://theroguepath.blogspot.com/

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