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From: marotta%lezah.DEC@decwrl.ARPA
Newsgroups: net.sf-lovers
Subject: Art and Entertainment  (There will be an oral examination at the end of this lecture -- ;)
Message-ID: <3440@topaz.RUTGERS.EDU>
Date: Wed, 28-Aug-85 07:47:32 EDT
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Posted: Wed Aug 28 07:47:32 1985
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From: marotta%lezah.DEC@decwrl.ARPA  (MARY MAROTTA)

All works produced with skill, knowledge, or creativity are essentially
artistic.  A work of Art is generally judged in excellence by comparison
with products of similar processes.   Sculptures made from marble, from
ice, and from old automobile parts can be compared; qualitative judgements
can be made and even a ranking can be imposed, based on the standards of
good sculpture.  A visually entertaining piece is easier to judge than a
novel, of course, but the artistic element of a novel is no less apparent.

A work of art is judged by its expression -- a good artist conveys the
emotional level of his work as well as the technical level.  This is what
makes a sculpture both entertaining and well-executed.  So, to clarify the
discussion of Art v.s. Entertainment, we have to define Art as the ability
to craft a piece using knowledge and skill as well as creative thinking.

And to entertain a subject, the piece has to convey both technical and
aesthetic impressions.  If you, as the subject, are unfamiliar with the
technical requirements of an art form, you are less likely to appreciate
the results of the artistic endeavor.  On the other hand, a heavy emphasis
on the creativity of the artistic process can obscure an appreciation of
the work.  Artistic quality is the result of both technical and creative
technique.

Most people appreciate a work for its technical merits, based on the level
of knowledge available about the craft.  If you are familiar with the
literary tenets by which a novel is determined to be a Classic of
literature, you will probably find the sheer artistic skill of the author
to be entertaining.  If you are less familiar with these tenets,
then you probably rely on the author's ability to convey impressions and
sensations -- the creative level of the novel.  But you would not
appreciate this level of writing if the author didn't subscribe to
certain tenets of literature.  Sometimes the author succeeds in conveying
the desired impression by selectively rejecting or reversing the rules.
For example, see the classic Alice In Wonderland.  Vonnegut, Jr. also
bends the rules, to achieve a conversational, personal style of writing.

Artistic license doesn't mean that the artist can do any anything she
wants.  The author of a novel must convey some emotions and/or ideas to the
reader.  Sometimes these are revealed through a plot structure that depends
on chronological occurrences.  Since this is a controlled, familiar
environment, this device is effective for the general reader.  But a novel
can be based on impressions, sensations, and philosophical beliefs.  Take
William Faulkner, or Samuel Delaney.  No clear plot.  No logical
cause-effect occurrences to provide the reader with the sensation of
movement, change, and action.  Instead, these authors require you to read
differently, to assess the impact of each sentence, each thought, at an
emotional and associative level.  Similar to a painting by Picasso,
Dahlgren asks you to accept the artist's style as the most effective way to
convey impressions and sensations.  If you can associate the elements in a
Picasso painting with your own view of life, if you can understand why all
the elements are collected onto one canvas, and if you had some reaction to
the painting, then you appreciate Picasso as an artist, his painting as a
work of art.

Dahlgren has to be viewed with the same intention.  In reading most novels,
it is apparent from the beginning whether the plot is based on action or on
sensations.  Since almost all actions and impressions in Dahlgren are
strictly from the perspective of one rather confused human being, the
action in the novel is certainly of less importance than the thoughts and
feelings of this protagonist.  But there is action in Dahlgren.
Everything happens to the protagonist, and this perspective governs the
reader's impressions of the action.  Perhaps the greatest difficulty in
appreciating this style of writing is surrendering to the emotive influences of
another's thoughts and feelings.  It is far easier to read a Fantasy novel
than Sound and Fury, but you will find that the discipline of reading
William Faulkner is rewarded by a greater appreciation for the power of the
written word.

When can a novel be judged as A Work of Art?  The requirements are clear:
the author must use skill, knowledge, and creativity in producing the
novel.  The first novel by an author does not necessarily reveal the
author's control over his craft, though it can indicate the level of
creativity that the author is able to convey in writing.  The bestseller is
not always a Work of Art -- The Joy of Sex was really popular for awhile,
but it's about as innovative as its subject matter.  However, an author who
proves his craft by displaying skill and creativity in successive works,
and whose work becomes popular, even posthumously, can be judged more
objectively as an artist.  Only time can make a Classic, but each of us
contributes to the popularity of any one author or novel.  

To judge each book as a Work of Art is to limit the power of the Science
Fiction genre, by creating a standard for authors to follow.  Since Science
Fiction and Fantasy depend on innovation as well as effective technique,
they can only suffer by attempting to conform to the standards imposed by
the readership.  Better to judge a book for its own merits, an author for
her unique skills, and be aware of artistic attempts that fail.  Not all
Art is good, but all good novels are artistic.