[文以载道第二轮]Issue144 by飘飘

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TOPIC: ISSUE144 - "It is the artist, not the critic,* who gives society something of lasting value."

*a person who evaluates works of art, such as novels, films, music, paintings, etc.

WORDS: 760          TIME: 02:00:00  DATE: 2008-8-4 21:03:59
Syllabus::相对艺术家，评论家还是不能带给社会太多价值
1 艺术家功不可没，艺术品传世
2 评论家过滤艺术品的作用值得怀疑，他们的评判标准也主观 往往喜欢一种风格，有人说褒有人贬如蒙娜丽莎
3 评论家补充我们知识叫你变成鉴赏家的功能值得怀疑，我们有老师和专业认识,而且艺术价值实在你面对它才懂的。
4评论家反馈信息辅助艺术家创作的功能很假，艺术是自由才美，多样才美，模式容易限制发展。

Art works are created for people to appreciate rather then for critics to judge. Admittedly, some constructive criticism helps folks to have a better understanding of art works and make certain contributions for artists to promote their working level. It is undeniable that most of the great arts give us a lasting value while some critiques exert some fair or impartial comments on them. Without artist the critic are at most like water without source, which is doomed to be arid. For my part, neither is the function of criticism necessary for common populace nor is the effect of critique beneficial for artist.

There is no doubt that it is the creative ideas and skillful manipulations of artists add some hue to our quotidian lives. We enjoy the stunning pleasure when sense impact rushing to us. Through the art works we feel the passion, zeal, enthusiasm, ardor, fervor from it creator, which is also the concentration and condensation of the long time perseverance and persistence practice and creation, which can never be imitated and replaced by criticism. Notwithstanding a number of productions can not be fairly evaluated at they début and received controversial judgment frequently, even be ignored for decades, nevertheless, majority of them deserve a authentic worship and veneration finally. For example, though one of the greatest painting artists Vincent Van Gogh failed to sell more than one piece of his painting in his life, whose productions can neither are accepted by art community long time ago. However two of his magnum opus has broken the records in selling market, which almost reached five million dollar. A pyramid of masterpieces have been proven containing great value now, we can expect more in the future.

Art critic is thought having some merits, for instance, they comments and evaluations serving as a filter to select good art works for us, which saving us time and helping us determine which one is worth our attention, helping public understand and interpret art. However, based on what standards art critics assess the art work or artist? I think it might be they subjective experience and taste which also belong to personal quality. The views and opinions of critics can be restricted to a relatively narrow range, most of them interest in only one style or one artist's work after long period comment, which render an unfair and unjust treatment to some valuable art works and outstanding artists. A proper example could be the wildly-known portrait Mona Lisa created by Leonardo Da Vinci, have been received different evaluations and judgments according to various criteria, some praising, others depreciating.

A critic who is familiar with art work usually a deep insight than layperson towards to particular art works, which help us better understand the art works and know how to become a decent connoisseur. However we have better experts，professionists and art teachers for resorting to if we want to learn the backgrond knowledge about art works. What's more, the real values always emerge when we encounter the art works. You can only have a resonance when you stand in front the art works. No lesson deeper and more impressive than personal experiences.

Most of people agree that critical comments and suggestions can bring a feedback to artist, which can be quite helpful for the self-improvement of artist and extent the artist's horizon. All the greatest feats in history, which give society something of lasting value, are those created by artists and evaluated by critics. However critics have no right to establish rules which serve to regulate the art creation. Noble art should not be constrained by any boundary or restriction, the beauty of art lies in the free creation and diversity. It is the differentiation of art make itself unique and attractive, nobody would like collect or appreciate the imitation or duplication of Guernica draw by Picasso or Sunflower from Van Gogh. Art works is not the electronic appliance on assembly line; certain formulation can only hinder the creativity and depress the enthusiasm of artists. Without standards artists have more space to develop their own personalities, to release their emotions, to stimulate their inspirations, to express their vigor and aesthetic conception.

If any objective standard for evaluating art work could be established, the appreciation of art then would become as dull as weighting things. Art, the treasure accumulated by generations of human beings can never be reduced to such simple and homogenized forms and therefore, the critique of art works will still be a diversified and subjective work which inspires people in their admiration of art.