How much of an Artistic Failure are YOU? (You can take an online survey to find out!)
Posted by: admin in The tortured artist, Artists are their own worst enemies, The Cult of the Amateur, The struggles of artists, Art surveys, Failed artist, Artistic failure in AmericaOnline surveys are usually silly, so I very rarely endorse them or pass them on to friends. However, anyone interested in artistic failure should check out this online survey that purports to measure whether or not you’re a “tortured artist.”
What’s interesting about this survey is how dreadfully stereotypical is its view of artists. In real terms, of course an artist is, simply, someone who makes art. Period. This survey, however, doesn’t even ask that question. Instead, its questions suggest that artists apparently are (or have to be): poor; TV-less; drug-addicted; lazy and dirty; gay; friendless; unhealthy; anti-family; single-minded; and misanthropic.
Again, there’s no reason any of these things have to be true. I’d posit that these notions of the artist are a actually example of the self-prophecy effect. That by suggesting an artist has to be these things, you actually make it so. But that’s just me…
In case you’re wondering, I took the survey myself. Here is my result, for what it’s worth:
You are 24% tortured artist.
You should be happy. You have a normal life. You have no artistic ability and are not cursed with the realiztion [sic] that everyone is an idiot, because you are one.
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January 4th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
I quite like your blog, but I disagree with your interpretation of the typo-laden “tortured artist” quiz. I think it’s clearly a joke, and while it is full of stereotypes, that is on purpose. I found it fairly amusing (and I think I scored a 52%).
January 4th, 2008 at 5:11 pm
Thanks for your comment, Giovanni. You make a good point.
Yes, there is much humor at the expense of artists. It is always based on at least a grain of truth. For instance:
Q: How many visitors to an Art Gallery does it take to change a light bulb?
A: Two. One to do it and one to say “Huh! My four-year old could’ve done that!”
Guy 1: I met an artist the other day who is never short of money.
Guy 2: How’s that? I thought all artists were poor.
Guy 1: Not this one - he’s always drawing cheques.
Fred imagined himself a brilliant artist. But his teacher said he was so bad it was a wonder he could draw breath.
Liz goes to her first show at an art gallery and is looking at the paintings. One is a huge canvas that has black with yellow blobs of paint splattered all over it. The next painting is a murky gray color that has drips of purple paint streaked across it. Liz walks over to the artist and says, “I don’t understand your paintings.” “I paint what I feel inside me,” explains the artist. “Have you ever tried Alka-Seltzer?” she asked!
Hm. I feel a future post subject coming on: Humor at the Expense of (Failing) Artists…