My Art Advice: Why do so many people view artists in a negative manner?

I did not really want to go into this issue. However, several people have sent similar questions to me... so I guess writing about it is 'now or never'. This is a question that has a number of answers and I do hope that you will all give your thoughts on the issue. One could say that the popular image of artist as 'rogue' or 'anti-hero' can be traced back generations-- the issue can actually be complex in its simplicity. However, I will focus on more recent times and how movies have shaped this 'image' in contemporary culture. In my opinion, movie depictions of artists can be credited for enforcing the negative stereotypes that some people have about artists in general.

It is no secret that movies about fictional artists often portray the characters as drug fiends hampered by emotional instability and fueled by lust. Even when a film is about a historical artist it seems that individuals with the most volatile or disrupted personalities are selected. Picasso, Modigliani, Pollock, Van Gogh, Goya, Warhol are the usual suspects as far as these movies are concerned and they are often the base for fictional artists in movies as well. Think of an artist who endured some form of strife in his or her life due to addictions, mental disorders, lifestyle, or a combination of the three and most likely there is-- or will be-- a movie about that artist if he or she has had any success with his or her art. In other words, negativity sells and in this case it can feed our collective 'image' of what it means to be an artist.

These artists and their traits are selected because each had specific flaws that are embraced by our inherent need to observe negative situations, places, and themes-- a need that is often enforced by the media. In other words, their lives-- and fictional characters structured from their lives-- are marketable as a plot due to their struggle and our desire to observe said struggle. The challenges-- both inward and outward-- that they faced invoke our curiosity... kind of like how people tend to take a few extra glances as they drive by a burning house or vehicle accident. Just look at the negative stories that dominate newspapers and news channels and you will find proof of how marketable negativity is. Positive aspects of life are often considered boring by media standards... and 'boring' does not earn big ratings.

Thus, the issue of how the 'image' of the artist has been shaped negatively is actually an issue involving how we view the world as a whole based on what we are subjected to viewing and our natural curiosity for destruction. That said, the problem with movies like Lust for Life, Surviving Picasso, and Modigliani is that they rarely reveal the brilliance of the artist at work. They may offer scenes that depict the artist in his or her studio, but they tend to favor personal drama-- specifically self-destruction or the destruction of others by the hand of the artist-- over artistic creation. These films often remind me of watered down soap operas with a few brushes thrown in for good measure. The art, which is what made the individual famous and 'movie worthy' in the first place, is often excluded throughout most of these films.

Viewers end up learning very little about the artist or his or her art from watching these movies because focus is often placed on a single aspect of the artists life-- drinking problems, sexual addictions and abuse, self-harm and so on-- not to mention the fact that these movies are often historically flawed in the first place. Someone with little knowledge about art or the artist in question may end up associating the creative strength of that specific artist with the addictions and flaws that said artist lived with. At that point the viewer may think that an artist-- every artist- must rely on addictions or endure great strife simply to create. Need proof... ask a dozen people about Van Gogh and I bet you that more than half of them will mention something about his ear before saying anything about his paintings or technique. Due to these stereotypes being enforced people sometimes forget that a work of art is created by a person... not by sex, drugs, and empty bottles.

Picasso was not just a self-centered womanizer. Van Gogh's greatest achievement was not self-harm. Modigliani liked his drink, but that was not the only focus in his life. These artists are known-- or should be known --because of the art they created... not their personal lives. Their personalities and lifestyle simply add an extra spark of interest in what they left behind-- I don't think it should be the focus. Unfortunately, movies often focus on these specific traits/events as far as these artists are concerned and as far as fictional portrayals of artists are concerned. Even more unfortunate is the fact that some people view these movies and form opinions about every artist based on what they have observed. Even worse, some artists emulate what they have observed to some degree in the hopes that they can be 'famous' as well. Personality-- both the negative and positive aspects of personality-- can have an influence on how popular or accepted an artist is, but in the end the art should be the focus because the art is the reason for remembering. People need to think about what an artist has to offer-- or has offered-- to society due to their art instead of what he or she did in the bar or bedroom.

One can find these artist stereotypes on television as well. For example, if you turn on HBO tonight you may stumble upon a documentary about the artist Chuck Connelly titled, The Art of Failure: Chuck Connelly Not for Sale. Insiders who have viewed this documentary have stated that it is one-sided as to how the artworld functions and that it, like the movies I mentioned, focuses on specific negative aspects of Connelly's life while leaving questions about him unanswered. So, to answer your question directly... people often view artists negatively because of the negative 'image' that movies, television shows, and other aspects of the media have created by focusing on traits and personality flaws that fuel artist stereotypes. So if you are an artist watching a movie like Surviving Picasso just remember to survive the stereotypes.

Take care, Stay true,

Brian Sherwin