AN APPRECIATOR’S ARGUMENT

Phoenix Walker-Hinds

‘Down with the arts,’ he says, hoping for my requited reply.
       ‘Pray tell your reasoning for sir our thoughts do not align.’
       ‘A waste of affection.’
       ‘Affection is not what shows. It is admiration that I believe is your foe.’
       ‘No.’
       ‘Then admire it. Spoken, written or drawn, and see the fault in your word that you have let out so carelessly.’
       ‘Yawn!’
       ‘Apologies, for I will give no retort. We both know what you speak of is false.’
       ‘Raise my pulse, widen my eyes, open my ears. It is affection that we show the work of our peers.’
       ‘Affection and admiration, then. They will work in tandem.’
       ‘To love or care is to admire and stare. I see no cause for either. We drown in subjectivity and never seem to point out a bad pen.’
       ‘It is not the pen that is bad, only the message we don’t understand. That, I fear, is your problem.’
       ‘No problem. Only realisation, that some art remains not to be understood, and thus the bad image shows. Not all art is good, but then the subjectivity of appreciation would mean that no art is good. Down with the arts I say.’
       ‘There is no known thing as bad art, only the foolish beliefs of close-minded people. The worst art, as you say, is that which falls upon deaf ears and whose spectacles reach blind eyes. For without an audience, alongside the artist’s demise, the beauty of their art truly forever lies. You needn’t care but relish the fact that it is there to be cared for. You needn’t stare but understand they are made to give you pause. Admiration is for those who wish to admire. Know you deprive only yourself of that fit for applause. But go on, sceptic, your ignorance violates no laws.’