{The Ends of Art}[21st October 1984]

[Redbook2:349][19841021:1315]{The Ends of Art}[21st October 1984]

19841021.1315

The led-up to the Booker Prize – I did not see the ceremony – led me to identify one wrongness in the Arts prize system.

A product of Artistic work as we see it – a painting, say, or a book – is the most visible result, the surface effect, of a most profound and subtle process. The prize system treats the product itself as the most profound aspect of the artistic process, the starting-point – on which the arts industry is to be built.

One response to this is to make discreet the whole business of prizes, so that they become a genuine support for those assessed (however crudely) as worthy of support – more like bursaries, perhaps, than rewards. Works need not be submitted formally by publishers etc. – although every artist should be able to publicize [sic] himself – but the prize 'judges' would be able to examine the whole of their field before offering support. The support, offered discreetly, could be freely refused*.

Artists, for their part, should learn to see the works produced as their own justification**. The need for recognition and for income should be met in whatever ways are most suitable, whether or not they involve the use of artistic products after completion, and without affecting the integrity of the artistic process.

*Of course! <930119>

**i.e. the works' justification <930119>

[Posted Blogger26082015]