Why are people so ignorant to art?

Question

I was in Michael's one day and I was buying a print of Starry Night...A woman who worked there wanted to know if I painted that picture and had just brought it in for framing. Is it that people find art boring or are there really people out there that are that ignorant?

I'm not trying to be mean about other people's tastes. I'm just suggesting that many people take the world for granted and really don't appreciate the great things this world holds. I'm just making a point that how can something so recognizable be so not recognizable.

Actually if what you say is true then those who lack knowledge of a certain thing are therefore ignorant. I can accept the fact that ignorance doesn't exsist it is just something you have learned yet. But what I can't except is if I had shown this woman a picture of the Elvis or even jesus if she couldn't recognize them should I just assume she didn't share the same interest as me?

How can you say I'm not trying to see others mentally? I'm an extremely open-minded person. You are taking my question in a different way then I meant it. I will admit that when it comes to some things yes I am ignorant but just like any highly recognizable figure I would be able to tell you who Babe Ruth, Marilyn Monroe, Abraham Lincoln, or even Dr. Dre are even if baseball, celebrities, history and rap is not something i'm into. All i'm saying is how can the recognizable be son unrecognizable especially when it is wrapped in plastic?

Answer 1

There's a difference between a love of art and being utterly ignorant. Not recognising Starry Night is akin to not recognising the Mona Lisa. It's not as if they are an abscure artist's work or an little known genre, then a person could be forgiven. This is rudimentary knowledge.

I had a similar experience to yours. I was in a local wholesale warehouse and they had loads of reproductions of Van Gogh works on canvas. There was a woman with two children and one of the kids said that he'd seen the painting before and was it Van Gogh, his mother then told him that he was wrong and it was a copy of a Monet. I could have given her a slap for misinforming the child and offending my art historian's ears with such piffle! It was very unusual for me not to say anything and had we been in a museum or the like then I would have done. I got to told off by my husband one day in Pompeii when I accosted an American group who were telling the kids that the big stones in the road were for people to walk accross when there were torrents of rain! I had to let them know that the real purpose was to prevent pedestrians stepping in sewage.


People don't realise the freedom and power that knowledge can give them and that makes me sad. Especially when I hear Philistines filling childrens heads with unsubstantiated rubbish.

Ps

I'm not generally an interferring busy body I just hate ignorance.

Answer 2

I don't mean to be an art snob, but sometimes it just happens. Here is my theory-
Art has gotten too difficult for the masses. (Fine art)
Contemporary art isn't about decoration. Contemporary art is about ideas. Many times, if you don't read the artists statement, you are like "what the h#ll is that!" I, for one, don't particularly like when I need to read what the artist wrote to understand why they made a piece. Craft seems to have fallen by the wayside, and art objects are just there to draw attention to the paper on the wall.
So-can we find a happy medium? I hope so.
I work at one of those mall artplaces and I see people w/ bad taste every day. Thay want the "decoration" and simple ideas. They also want something familiar and that they can see has been sanctioned as "artwork". Now, we also sell starry night, and most people who walk in know what it is. In fact, I would say its our best selling item! So I am impressed that she didnt know it! You should've told her you painted it! ha ha

Answer 3

I guess i never stopped to think of it that way, and many people do copy the masters anyway so maybe that was what she meant, my whole life has centered around art and i suppose other people think my head is in the clouds all the time and i have very little knowledge of anything else. and i still dont know all the artists. starry night is my fav of vincent. though my real faves are the preraphealites.then again im a dreamer. the world is basically ignorant about many things . people tend to specialize . and there is so much in the world i dont know, so i try not to judge too much. i hope your love of art brings you much joy.

Answer 4

Probably the woman you talked to don't care about art, ignorant about it or both. Can't blame her though. Art appreciation is learned not a naturally occurring trait, although some people have an in-born keen sense of art appreciation, but thats the exception. Generally, people of all races can't appreciate art in any form/genre since all are busy making a living, etc. Art appreciation is an intellectual pursuit but there seems too few people who manage to mix art appreciation and the daily mundane work routine. You're lucky, you're just one of the few who cares about art. God bless.

Answer 5

Most people, certainly clerks with low-paying jobs, use much of their energy and efforts just getting by, just paying bills, just raising their children.

Believe it or not many people see fine art, and the love of it, as a mental and emotional luxury item. An item that they don't place a high priority on.

Like read good literature or catching a play.

Be happy when you come upon kindred spirits and cultivate these types of friends and contacts.

Answer 6

Not everyone views art in the same light. For some it's a passion. For others it's existance is simply a fact of life. It's not fair to judge each other based on our personal interests or lack of interest.

The importance of a matter is all in relative perspective.

Answer 7

They are not actually ignorant but just lack the interest on what interests you. Let us accept the truth behind individual differences. We are a diversed and unique species.
Am i ignorant if i dont know and enjoy what you do? Better yet, are you ignorant if you dont know what i know?

Answer 8

i could understand your mentality towards arts....i think you love arts specially painting......but every one has their own idea about there interests, life,etc but most people Love's arts.....they are not ignorant....some people are interested in sports more than that of arts ......the problem is that you are not not trying to see or understand others mentality.....so don't worry about this......

Answer 9

ignorance comes when one is without knowledge....knowledge comes from experience. She don't like art hunny. I personally am more luis royo than Van Gogh though.

Answer 10

There are people living who are not knowledgeable about art? impossible!