Post by Noah on Sept 27, 2006 12:21:05 GMT -5
The existence of art schools, or of any formal educational program which purports to teach drawing, acting, writing, etc., is testament to the fact that it's so hard for artists to make money as artists. It's a business created and populated by frustrated artists, as a way of making a living. This is perfectly understandable, because they have to make a living somehow, and it makes them feel like they're doing it in their field. But it has a very regrettable effect on the art forms they love. It perpetuates the myth that these things can be taught, and it often results in art which is itself academic. If it were as easy to make a living writing as it is to make a living, say, accounting, there would be no such thing as a writing class. A writing class is designed so that the writer teaching it can eat. You can tech technique, of course, but not talent. And there is plenty of great art out there which reflects poor technique, and it doesn't matter. The only thing worth studying, toward a career as an artist, is the work of other artists, and -- most importantly -- the response of audiences.
