I look forward to reading Mick LaSalle, movie critic for the San Francisco Chronicle, every Sunday. He writes a thoughtful, intelligent column and very often I am moved to a big “Amen!” upon reading an exchange between Mick and a local reader.
A reader recently asked Mick to respond to critic John Simon‘s comment that the movie “King Kong” (1933) was “after all, only trash.” Replace “King Kong” with your favorite art piece and read Mick’s reply:
The truth is, any intelligent critic can make a convincing case against any work of art, because no art work contains the totality of life. Every art work is smaller than creation. In that sense, it’s smaller than what we can see by turning away from the art and looking at the world. The seductive power of art is that it makes us want to look at it anyway, and it suggests a fullness and a scale that art can, at best, only hint at. Yet, as such, it leaves room for any critic to say, “Look at what you only think is there, but isn’t!” So what? I could do this all day and make a case against every masterpiece that ever delighted a suffering world, but it’s meaningless. I’ve read essays explaining why “Hamlet” is a lousy play. It’s nice they keep themselves busy.
Keep making art no matter what anyone says. Do I hear an “Amen!”?
AMEN!!
AMEN!!
works for me Amen!
Amen!
definitely Amen from me.
Amen Franki! Some people are negative and close minded, it takes those like Mick (and you) to open those minds and teach them a thing or two about different views.
I echo all the amens. Keep negativity at bay.
Amen!
Amen. Dance like no one is looking!!
Amen!