Random Musing On Art : Alfred Nobody

oil painting on 18 by 24 inch canvas
Style is not important in this case.
It is not titled nor for sale at this time.

Paintings might search for universal appeal, which is a type of artistic snipe hunt.

A snipe hunt, if you are not into camping, was a rite of passage for young boys of my generation.  It usually happens at night.  The boys are organized into groups.  Each boy is given two sticks and are instructed to bang them together in order to attract snipes.  The hunt usually lasts an hour, or more if the boys are unusually dense.  

Snipes don't exist in my part of the world, and until recently I didn't think they existed at all.  I am not sure what the point of snipe hunts were.   Perhaps, a mild hazing, and everyone felt a part of the group.

Universal appeal is thought unattainable, although people keep trying.  Not just artists, but sales and marketing chase that snipe.

If you truly believe that art is subjective, then universal appeal cannot be possible.  There are too many people in the world.

Is art really subjective?   

Dried Onion
Digital Photograph

How do we even contemplate anything if everyone sees something different?  No the image of the dried onion above is the same for everyone.  What reaction people have will be different, but it remains an image of a dried onion.

A search for universal appeal is not a snipe hunt.  What I am not sure of is what use it would be.  If everyone likes an image, it will be reproduced endlessly and fade into a rather pleasant background.  

If the internet has shown us anything useful, its that not being in the background gets you noticed.  Also, sex sells - but, then we have always know that.

Today's artists are looking for reactions.   

but

I think these are the big questions.

What are people who consume art looking for?  

Do we follow the money to find that out?  

Or, do we see what is searched for on the internet?

What about people who don't use the internet to look for art?  After all, being there is still a unique experience.  Also, just because the internet is not available to someone does not automatically exclude them from the art world.