News Flash: I Am An Art Snob

Over the past few months I have become hyper sensitive to blanket statements and generalizations that run rampant in lecture, Sunday school, Relief Society and other venues around these parts. I am making a concerted effort to not be offended or automatically label the person who offered the comment up for public consumption as a complete ignoramus. A passion of mine that falls victim to the ignorance of others is art and the study of it.

Lately I have had increased exposure to people who have no interest in art but are required for some GE class to scratch the surface. I am often approached by these people in my apartment, in the work place and in other daily settings. It is frustrating because their intention is not really to learn or understand, it is simply to gain a concise answer to satisfy the demands of their assignment.

Along these same lines I feel I’ve crossed paths with my fair share of people who don’t really understand what it is that art historians do. They think art, oh that must mean she paints or knows how to hang things up on the wall. Art historians often have a keen eye for color and design, and may possess creative talents; however this is not a focus of our discipline. We don’t JUST look at art all day either. As a discipline our skill, our work falls somewhere between science and literature. Our arguments and research must be beautiful and eloquent and be supported by factual evidence. A fundamental difference between art history and science that one of my professors recently pointed out is that is that as art historians we are never done. A certain construct will work for so long until it is improved upon.

Another aspect that I would like to touch upon is that wretched question that I’m asked from time to time. What is your favorite painting? First of all, there are so many other mediums of art and second, that is an impossible question. It is impossible for many reasons. What does favorite mean, does it mean what painting would you like to hang in your home or does it mean what painting employs your favorite formal techniques or symbolism??? Asking someone to name a favorite movement or artist is a slightly more manageable question but still, I have studied so much art that I can appreciate and enjoy looking at; even this question is difficult to answer.

I included a slide show of art to emphasize my point. I appreciate these works of art for reasons
spanning from bizarre subject matter, naturalism, use of light and shadow, historical context and aesthetic value. Despite this I would not want any of them in my home. Not all art is created equal. Artists cannot be pigeon holed. Just as musicians change their sound, artists change their style.