The endless debate about the rules of art, and how it's meaningful.
I’ve encountered a frequent debate among artists and craftspeople in the forums where such debates occur. This debate is related to the rules of art, or the rules of poetry.
Many will attest that there are no rules in art, that there are no rules in poetry, and that there is no such thing as bad art. Still others fervently deny this, asserting with vigor that art that does not follow the rules is bad art, by definition. The irony is that those who believe art must follow a particular process or rule-set are arguing for craftsmanship, which does have clear rules and measures about what produces a good craft result.
There is a glaring inauthenticity in the argument of the craftspeople that argue for rules in art. A person, who is good at a craft, especially when it comes to writing, would understand words and their meanings and would use them appropriately, as a good craftsperson would. By making a stand in the argument that art has rules, they also prove that they are not very good craftsmen when it comes to the English language. Here is why.
A craft is defined as “an activity that involves skill”. Art is defined as the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination. Clearly they are two distinctly different meanings, not to be confused.
A craft involves skill, which is the ability to do something well. Such skill is something that must follow rules, and skills must be practiced to be perfected, resulting in expertise, or craftsmanship. Certainly there is great value to such individuals, who have perfected their skills over time, as they are able to produce consistent and quality results. A pure craftsman however will ultimately be reproducing something that has already been produced, time and time again. In pure craftsmanship, there is no art, no imagination, no expression of human creative skill.
Art, being distinctly different from craft, has no rules. It is about human creative expression or imagination, which are not requirements of any craft, which only require the ability to follow instructions. There is no good or bad expression of human creativity, as any expression of creativity qualifies as art. Creativity (creative skill) is characterized by the ability to perceive the world in new ways, which is at the opposite end of the spectrum of craft.
Therefore, it is not artistic to produce something that follows a model previously set. Art needs not look or sound like anything that has ever been produced before. In fact, the more it sounds like what has already been created, the less artistic it is, by definition. Art is free and unlimited in its expression. Art is original. Art gives us new perspective, and doesn’t insist on mechanics.
Since that is now cleared up, we can distinguish the values of both art and craft, for each has its applications. Most artists and craftspeople operate somewhere in the spectrum between the two, bringing creativity and learned skills together to produce their works. Certainly a craftsperson who attempts to create art by known process alone will not succeed, as they will be limited to that which is already known. Likewise an artist who attempts to create with skill and expertise by sheer creative expression will not meet the bar of craftsmanship, for their expressions will be too imaginative to conform to known perceptions.
It truly is amazing when a creator becomes a master in both craftsmanship and in artistic expression, for they are able to bring together the two worlds into creations that are accessible through familiar skill while creative enough to introduce new ways of perceiving. I could make a very long list of people who have effectively balanced themselves on this spectrum, while I still would not limit my respect for artists or craftspeople who operate on other extremes.
All this being said, I find that I probably reside more toward the end of the spectrum where art exists. Most of my creations over time have been little understood by others, while they have been authentic expressions of something quite outside of the norms. My lack of training and practice over the years should not preclude me from being able to express myself however I feel is appropriate for me.
Shadows Illuminated is definitely created in the true spirit of artistic expression. It was only by releasing my self-imposed limitations of what music should sound like that freed me to creating a music album (or even singing for that matter). If I held myself to the standards of music as a craft, I may as well have not created anything, for I was not gifted with a life devoted to building skill in composing, singing, or playing any musical instrument. It might have taken me twenty more years of training and practice before I was comfortable producing any music, and by then it likely would have simply sounded like what had already been done before.
So I let go of the rules, the limitations, and I simply started singing, composing, and expressing myself the best that I could. The result was the birth of a truly artistic piece. Certainly it is not for everyone, not for a mainstream audience, but I really care little about that. It is an authentic expression of who I am, and for that I could not be more pleased.
My “nudge” to you, artist and craftsman alike. If you are called to create, go for it. Apply your skills where you have them and liberate yourself to free expression where the skills may not be present. You never know what might come from simply creating!