Lauren Elizabeth Shults

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Who gets to write about art?

Everyone has the standing to speak about art. There is never a right or wrong answer, therefore, everything goes. All responses to a work of art will be on a multidimensional spectrum considering academia, aesthetics, and intellect. Some may respond to a work of art and draw upon their studies of culture, others may recognize technicalities, and some may simply evaluate the appearance. Each individual, based on their lived experiences, will have a different kind of response that is a mirror of them self.

It is easy to deny yourself validity when speaking about a work of art, but even the simplest of responses should be respected. When I look at art, it is integral for me to understand the context, alongside admiring the aesthetics. By trying to put myself in the artist’s shoes with the information I have, I do this.

Imagining an artist creating a piece allows you to have a deeper understanding of the work and all it stands for. You can melt yourself into the landscape that they created it in, and honestly grasp their references.

To better understand art and to feel of its place, individuals must spend time with a work and understand all its faculties. Depending on your lived experiences, your perception of a piece and experience with it will vary. Recognizing the connections you have with a work of art, you know you belong to it, and it to you.