"This is not a lecture," he said to the overcrowded room.
He began his "not lecture" by reading from Oscar Wilde's "The Critic as Artist." I took down some notes of things that really stood out to me in reading and commentary and I will express my thoughts on a few of the things that were said that night.
"Critics as artists are 'stylists'"
When Schjedahl has spoken those words, I had never really thought about that before. I haven't had my worked looked at by a fancy critic or anything, but I definitely know what it is like to be criticized by someone who has no idea what kind of work goes into my personal process. It might not be exactly the same thing, but essentially I understand how the critic, someone who doesn't make the work, could be like a stylist. For instance a hair stylist. The hair stylist looks at a head of hair that is self sufficient, and grows on its own and maintains its own oils and vitamin. However, the stylist can come in and criticize it and tell the owner of the hair what could be a better look. Perhaps they are just opinions? But the stylist knows about hair, and the critic knows about art...right?
"Why should the artist care so much about the one that doesn't make the work?"
This then kind of bleeds into this next topic about why we should care so much about the person who doesn't even make the art. I think that this topic could be directed into many directions. I think that the artist should care to a certain extent, considering that we make work for others to see that don't even practice making art. However, I think that it is good to at one point say "screw you, I am going to make what I want." I am still learning to not be so compliant to all the opinions of the "experts" (faculty). I know that the faculty make work of their own, and perhaps it is starting to stray away from the topic a bit. But all the same, I think to a certain extent is only natural to care about what the "experts" think..I mean they look at a lot of work and have a lot to compare your work too. But in the end, however, if we boil all of us down to humans on earth with just one opinion, does it really matter anyway?
"'Artists don't need criticism, they need appreciation'"
This was a quote from Gertrude Stein that Schjedahl read to us. I pondered on this quote for a while after the lecture. In a way, I kind of disagree. I find that criticism has really built me as an artist. I never feel like I get anywhere when all I am getting is compliments. Although being complimented doesn't always mean you are being appreciated, genuine appreciation is always uplifting.
"Criticism is a performing art"
(especially the language)
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| Peter Schjedahl on stage at UC Davis |
