Inflated value of opinions. Never has the exaggerated value of my own opinion ever become so apparent as when other over-valued opinions responded to my art.
I funded the production and very slight release of an album full of my original songs (no small feat considering the amount of money I make and music production costs on any level). It is an understatement to say that I put much thought into this album. To hint on the amount of energy I spent on this album: I wrote every song, played all bass lines, played all rhythm and lead guitar save for one guitar solo, came up with and sang all vocals, and created the main drum loops for a majority of the songs. I did damn near everything, and I put absolutely all my resources into it.
After releasing my baby into the wild, the few who heard it responded positively. A few didn't dig it, and some just didn't respond at all. Fine. Mostly smiles from me.
An irritating observation came from listening to some of the responses. My observation is this: some folks can't respond to art without a retraction. It sounds like this, "It's good, but..." or "I like it, but it needs to do this, travel in this direction." I've responded in this manner before.
Someone can like or dislike a piece of art, but to say it ought to be one thing or another, while not being the author of the art is presumptuous. It assumes the author didn't accurately relay his/her thoughts or feelings or whatever he/she wanted to express in a communicable way, which is the point of art.
I know I accurately portrayed a snapshot of my life in the album I produced. I said what i wanted to say. If you don't like what I produce, then fine. However, don't say it ought to be this or that so you'll like it, assuming what you like is what I want to express. I hope this doesn't break your heart, but I won't check to see if what you like is what I want to say.
Bottom line (again, I'm guilty of this infraction and will change), take art for what it is, and don't be an AUTHORity concerning a piece if you aren't it's AUTHOR. Like and dislike with regard to art ought to happen. To assume the direction you want an artist's work to take will accurately express what that artist wishes to say is a more-than 15 yard penalty in my book.
I totally get you, man. I have been frustrated by the same thing before. A few of the criticisms of my band have come from assumptions on what they thought we were trying to do, and they were so inaccurate. "Oh they are trying to sound like such and such band" and it's usually a band I'm not even very familiar with at all. Oh well, just keep doing what you're doing for yourself and let the chips fall where they may. For the record, I really dig what you create.
ReplyDeleteThanks Brett. Likewise. Have you been working on our routine?
ReplyDeletejust in case you didnt know Nick and I absolutely loved the album. and not just in a lets support our friend because he made an album kind of way. good shit.
ReplyDeleteThanks Trish. Glad you dig the album. Most of the responses have been encouraging. It's a few who puzzle me by trying to make my art theirs so as to like it. Narcissistic.
ReplyDelete