I decided to re-read this series because I’m trying to figure out where does technique enter into all of this. Technique, as in focused practice and study to become a better painter/writer/dancer, etc. There is a stage at which what we put out is so formless and chaotic as to not be understood by a lot of people. Social media, however, lends itself to these half-cooked shapes, and I’m seeing many artists stay at that level without progressing further because, what’s the point ? Unfortunately, Technique has been deployed as a tool for elitism, and so it’s very difficult to bring it up without being accused of that, especially when you yourself are working to improve as an artist (as is my case) and are not putting out flawless works. But I do believe that we cannot entirely throw it out the window. I think the difference between art and slop can perhaps be teased out from the point of view of technical intent or the application of technique towards the expression of ideas and a commitment to getting better. Some content on the internet falls in that definition, most of it does not. When the primary goal is to make money or get validation, you become so distanced from trying to get better technically while also saying something that the question of making something valuable becomes moot.
I say all this because I think social media has kind of blurred the distinction between amateurish art and non-amateurish art (I won’t say “professional” because to me that is a whole other can of worms). You can launch a professional career with little or very limited technique in a way that perhaps wasn’t possible decades ago. Heck, like Raygun, you can make it into the Olympics with very basic elements of the art form you’re representing.
But of course technique very much happens at the individual level of the artist and thus is a terrible barometer for understanding general cultural trends like taste. I do think, however, that if we strip all media from any technique people would definitely complain. That is perhaps a potential starting place that has some level of objectivity?
That... is an interesting point. I am glad that the enui? am I using that word right? I am glad that the naked pointlessness of what we're fed is leading more people to unionize.
A point in favor of tribalism: I stayed off Twitter mostly.
I decided to re-read this series because I’m trying to figure out where does technique enter into all of this. Technique, as in focused practice and study to become a better painter/writer/dancer, etc. There is a stage at which what we put out is so formless and chaotic as to not be understood by a lot of people. Social media, however, lends itself to these half-cooked shapes, and I’m seeing many artists stay at that level without progressing further because, what’s the point ? Unfortunately, Technique has been deployed as a tool for elitism, and so it’s very difficult to bring it up without being accused of that, especially when you yourself are working to improve as an artist (as is my case) and are not putting out flawless works. But I do believe that we cannot entirely throw it out the window. I think the difference between art and slop can perhaps be teased out from the point of view of technical intent or the application of technique towards the expression of ideas and a commitment to getting better. Some content on the internet falls in that definition, most of it does not. When the primary goal is to make money or get validation, you become so distanced from trying to get better technically while also saying something that the question of making something valuable becomes moot.
I say all this because I think social media has kind of blurred the distinction between amateurish art and non-amateurish art (I won’t say “professional” because to me that is a whole other can of worms). You can launch a professional career with little or very limited technique in a way that perhaps wasn’t possible decades ago. Heck, like Raygun, you can make it into the Olympics with very basic elements of the art form you’re representing.
But of course technique very much happens at the individual level of the artist and thus is a terrible barometer for understanding general cultural trends like taste. I do think, however, that if we strip all media from any technique people would definitely complain. That is perhaps a potential starting place that has some level of objectivity?
That... is an interesting point. I am glad that the enui? am I using that word right? I am glad that the naked pointlessness of what we're fed is leading more people to unionize.
A point in favor of tribalism: I stayed off Twitter mostly.