View  Edit  Attachments  History  Home  Changes  Search  Help 

Against Interpretation Response Brittany Batt

Against interpretation. Obviously, Susan Sontag’s purpose and message are very clear. Her article was very persuasive and I can tell that she is very passionate about the tradition of interpretation. I think that interpretation can go both ways. I remember watching an episode of Art 21 where the artist, Sally Mann, only took pictures. Her pictures were beautiful and unique and had a certain air to them, but according to her, she only took pictures. In the video, Sally Mann talked about how she just started taking pictures, especially of her children and art critiques seemed to interpret those the most, even though Sally said that there was no alternate meaning to be had. I began to look at interpretation in a different light after that. During classes, I heard people talk about how they are so sick of interpretation, that they are happy just to do a work of art. Ever since I can remember, I recall always looking for the deeper meaning. I would always feel so frustrated when I did not find the same answer as my peers or the instructor. So I began to look harder, though I would keep my interpretations to myself. I am now realizing that art can just be art, that it doesn’t need to be interpreted. Bill Hosterman frequently noted in my drawing class of lines and shapes that were simply beautiful, not due to the underlying meaning or the overall emotion of the piece, but only because the shapes and lines that my classmates had created were just that, beautiful. I now have a more relaxed view on art and its interpretation. I have embraced my uniqueness in my own interpretations and have even left the interpretations out.
Although I do believe that art is interpreted too much, I do also think that interpretations do have their own purpose. Art interpretation is very personal, touching our emotions in the deepest way. I think there is meaning to the way that art makes someone feel and how it can effect the way the someone views a particular topic. It continues to change, also. As works of art grow older, more interpretations can be made and more connections to society are created. I think that this helps to keep an artwork fresh. As more aspects are revealed, excitement around a piece of art may also be re-opened. This minority idea of interpretation, I believe, is very novel. Many people have interpreted art and then left it alone, but I know that there is more to an artwork than what is perceived within that time period. Works of art are applicable far into the future and I think that in our interpretations of art, that is what we need to look for, more up-to-date interpretations, continuing to change our view of the world. Who knows, the most influential of interpretations may come from one of the oldest works of art.

Link to this Page