I was an awful critic. I operated on the assumption that there was an absolute scale of values against which art could be measured. I didn't trust my own subjective responses.
Interpretation
The quote reflects on the speaker's recognition of their past inability to appreciate art subjectively, instead relying on rigid standards.
Tom Stoppard's quote illustrates the tension between objective and subjective evaluations of art. It conveys the idea that the speaker once believed in a definitive measure of artistic quality, dismissing personal interpretations and feelings. This realization highlights a more nuanced understanding of art appreciation, emphasizing the importance of individual responses and the subjective nature of aesthetic experiences.
In practice
During an art workshop, this quote can be used to encourage participants to trust their feelings about art.
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Nobody really needs a painting. It's something you kind of create value for in a way that you don't with a company. It's an act of collective faith what an object is worth. Maintaining that value system is part of what a dealer does, not just making a transaction but making sure that important art feels important.
In my work and in myself I reflect black people, women and men, as I reflect others. One day even the most self-protective ones will look into the mirror I provide and not be afraid.
I believe that music is connected by human passions and curiosities rather than by marketing strategies.
We don't need a lot of initiatives for women in film; what we need is money.
She was the music heard faintly on the edge of sound.
All I care about these days is painting — photography has never been more than a way into painting, a sort of instant drawing.
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