Contra Everyone On Taste
Summary
The article refines the concept of "taste" and "good art" by dissecting them into eight distinct components, arguing against their conflation. These components include Sensory Delight, Novelty and Innovation, Paying Attention/Pattern Language, Context and Discussion, Literal Ability To Understand A Work, Changing Fashions, Political And Ideological Point-Making, and Ability To Profoundly Affect Or Transform You. The author uses the "Parable Of The Steakhouse" to critique conventional restaurant criticism, advocating for a more objective, "blinded" approach akin to medical randomized controlled trials to isolate true aesthetic value from contextual biases. The piece further explores the tension between art's inherent power to awe and transform versus its provenance and historical context, questioning why novelty and discussion often overshadow intrinsic beauty. It also critiques modern literary and art criticism for fostering a "defensive" and constrained artistic landscape, hindering genuine innovation and beauty.
Key takeaway
For critics and consumers of art, you should consciously disentangle the various components that contribute to "taste" and "good art." Prioritize intrinsic sensory delight and profound impact over external factors like novelty, historical context, or political messaging. If you find yourself valuing art primarily for its "conversation" or "defiance," question whether you are truly appreciating the art itself or merely its surrounding discourse, and seek out works that genuinely awe and transform you.
Key insights
Conflating diverse aspects of "taste" hinders genuine appreciation and critical evaluation of art.
Principles
- Isolate aesthetic factors from contextual biases.
- Novelty and beauty are distinct artistic values.
- Artistic value should transcend historical context.
Method
To objectively evaluate art, one should attempt to isolate its intrinsic qualities from external factors like provenance, artist's intent, and critical discourse, similar to a blinded scientific experiment.
In practice
- Challenge assumptions about art's value.
- Seek intrinsic beauty over historical novelty.
Topics
- Artistic Taste Definitions
- Art Criticism Methodology
- Intrinsic Aesthetic Value
- Novelty and Innovation in Art
- Artistic Context and Provenance
Best for: Domain Expert, General Interest
Related on AIssential
Editorial summary, takeaway, and curation by AIssential. Original article published by Astral Codex Ten.