Issue144 Synergy第一次作业(yangxuan)，欢迎来拍！(补)

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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.

Who offers something of lasting value to the society, the artist who composes the works of art or the critic who evaluates them? I strongly agree the speaker that the answer should be the artist. Critics serve as helping people appreciate art, at some times, however，they may fail in the role of judgment and wrongly guide people. On the other hand, it is the artists that create these works and this is a fundamental and most important step in evolving something of lasting value due to their originality and uniqueness.

Conceded, critics’ function of helping people, especially the layman, to understand the art cannot be overlooked. Engaging in certain particular artists, critics may have a deep insight of their works and then make a penetrating analysis which contributes to a better understanding of these works. When a great artist work comes out, not everyone may have a proper and accurate perception or even know about it; thus, it is indispensable to propagandize and elucidate the work- that is, we need critics to accomplish this task.

However, in many cases, events do not happen as one wishes; critics may have an unfair evaluation, and therefore, to the contrary, prevent people appreciate the real excellent works. One strong illustration of this point involves Van Gogh, one of the greatest painters. At that time, he lived a dramatically humble life and his paintings are so difficult to sell. It is because he was not accepted by the critics that this prominent artist shot himself at last. Also, Shakespeare, who is the greatest dramatist in the world, is still criticized by Voltaire for he did not use the neoclassic approach; in fact, his work was just a model of an alternative approach. Influenced by these critics, many artists and something of last value may not be well be accepted by the society and people may lose the opportunity of appreciating such works.

Actually, the originality and uniqueness of works of art contribute greatly to the lasting value and both of these are created by the artists. The tragedy of Romeo and Julia, the smile of Mona Lisa, and the Ninth Symphony are created not by critics, but by the inspiration of certain artists. Due to the insightful observation and deep comprehension of society, the artists create treasures for people to appreciate and exert a profound influence on the attitudes on art and even the later life. Simply put, the artists bring something of last value with their excellent works.

In sum, while conceded that critics play an active role in helping the society to better understand those works and appreciate something of value, it is undoubted that the artists accomplish these great works of art and create something of last value.