Knowing Nothing About Sex

Regardless of how much I love someone, you could probably prove that I don’t and I couldn’t prove that I do. Although love is the most powerful emotion, it could never stand up to argument in a court of reason. It is a mystery beyond mind.

The same is true of art. Perhaps because western civilization is so reason-oriented we tend to think that appreciating art takes some kind of special knowledge. To me the phrase, “I don’t know much about art but I know what I like” comes across like, “I don’t know much about sex but I know what I like". Think about it. True, an art degree might be the more impressive of the two on a resume, but when it comes to really absorbing either of them special knowledge is not required, only full presence. Sure, batting around details and associations about art helps one to see how art relates to other aspects of culture, politics, psychology, the spirit, history, etc. That’s a blast and I’ll never quit trying to learn as much as I can. But can I say that such knowledge makes my enjoyment of any work deeper than the next guy’s?

In order to truly absorb what art offers, you don’t have to know the artist, the period, the medium or anything at all about it. All that’s required is your full engagement with it. The rest is gravy. The only real experts on the true intimacy we have with an artwork are ourselves. So if anybody ever tells you you’re wrong about the art you like, just smile and say “I don’t know much about sex but I know what I like”!