Popularity is Overrated – March 8, 2008
Last night I found myself looking at pictures. I was browsing through
books at first and then at various photography sites on the internet.
And it’s amazing to me how people seem to crave some sort of manufactured
validity. Of course everyone wants their work to be liked and appreciated
and I completely get that. I really do. But what I don’t understand
are the photography sites with the ridiculous rating systems and all the
fawning comments. As if a rating on the internet is some measure of self-worth
or some sign of irrelevance, or a vapid comment of faint praise is more
valuable that a thoughtful criticism.
I know in society we’re programmed this way. We’re assigned
grades, and given bonuses, and awarded stars, and told that it all matters.
But really, what’s the point of grading a photograph? It almost
seems that to some people, the grade is the point, and the actual work
and creative process is simply a means to an end. It’s only the
rating that matters, and any negative reaction to their creation is some
kind of vicious attack on their character and their very being. How silly.
From where I sit, popularity is nothing. To me universal praise is the
surest sign of a banal product. If somebody is not criticizing the work,
and fervently so, something must be wrong. Most likely it’s that
the work fails to challenge, inspire, or excite the viewer. Not every
reaction should be positive. And if that’s the case, I can almost
guarantee the work is condescending in its blandness.
Like the old saying goes, hate is not the opposite of love, indifference
is. And any truly great piece of art will be both hated and loved. Anything
else is indifference. Simply put, I’d much rather be both adored
and despised by a select few than mildly applauded by the masses. When
I hear criticism along with praise, I know I’ve provoked. I know
I’ve inspired. Popularity is overrated and great praise is hollow
without the fervent denial of a few.
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