TOPIC: ISSUE218 - "In order for any work of art

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TOPIC: ISSUE218 - "In order for any work of art-whether film, literature, sculpture, or a song-to have merit, it must be understandable to most people."

    Should any work of art meet the most people's appreciation in order to have merit, as the speaker asserts? It might be tempting to agree with the speaker on the basis that most people are just fascinated by the lights, colors or other superficial forms of art. Nevertheless, the purpose of the art is to express the artists' thoughts rather than to meet the majority's interests.

    First and foremost, many art works are created at such a high stage that transcends the comprehension of the ordinary people. One apt illustration involves the art form of impressionism. Derived from the title of a Monet’s work: Impression, Sunrise, it discards the convention of painting. Purely visual effects are stressed and often have obscured theme which incurred numerous criticism at that time. But now no one can deny the achievement of impressionism and it also followed by reforms in music, literature and so forth. Furthermore, as their difficulties in understanding, they often have no practical use for the public, so people constantly ignore their existence. That is another factor that those works understandable to people are in minority.

    Secondly, Art--whether film, literature, sculpture, or songs are usually open to large quantities interpretations of various forms. No aesthete knows exactly what in the mind of the artist. Let's take Moonlight Sonata composed by Beethoven for example. The theme of it remains controversial till now. It is rumored to be dedicated to his pupil, 17-year-old, with whom Beethoven was, or had been, in love while a music critic Rellstab, compared it to moonlight shining upon the lake and named it Moonlight Sonata. Some others believe that it is because of the moonlight spilled on the piano when he was playing the music for the poor which inspired him. Unfortunately, Beethoven is no longer alive, the secret will continue, so as the dispute.

    Last but not least, we should be aware of the fact that not all masterpieces are intended to be understood and appreciated by the rest of the world and therefore the simple majority's opinions about the merit seem to be not that essential. Apart from the story of Van Gogh and his masterpiece----sunflower, another great painter involves the example of Jan Vermeer. In retrospect, Jan Vermeer, a Dutch Baroque painter who seems to have left no legacy but debt to his family. Because the idiom of luxury is prevailed in his era, while he specialized in exquisite, domestic interior scenes of middle class life, he has never considered selling one of his paintings during his lifetime. But he clang tenaciously to creating a perfect world of his own and delivering the eternal theme: Love. Fortunately, with changes in people’s perception, Vermeer's reputation has grown, and his unique appreciation of life is finally understood by the public.

    In conclusion, the merit in art is not simply determined by the poll of the majority, and therefore don't necessarily required to be understandable to others which are of minor importance. A masterpiece is only successful when its creator's heart is thoroughly expressed.