New Arts Journalism: What it Do? (Part Two)

Integration of the Arts + Connections

In the same way that journalists and critiques will grow their audience and benefit their own writing from referencing specific cultures and histories, it’s as important to understand each disparate branch of the arts as a singular whole. There are concrete differences between painting, playing guitar and editing film together, but in each of those endeavors – if the work is conceived as art and not a way to simply make a dollar - the creator will have an aesthetic end in mind. Crafting an object or product to be as beautiful as possible is the hallmark of any successful art object – writing included.

At times, attempting to connect each discipline through history, craft or intent may become obtuse and unruly, but when successful, writing that works to this end will become all encompassing and attractive to ones readership. Again, exposing readers to concepts and ideas that may be foreign to them is tantamount to success. There’s no such thing as perfection, but when a writer is able to connect history, art movements and a theoretical discourse to a story, the work will be broadly entertaining and attractive.

Frequently panned as persona over artful craftsman, Andy Warhol may or may not be considered a milestone in American art. Beyond what pop art was intended to be by the Pittsburgh born illustrator and film maker, Warhol’s ability to move from one artistic discipline to another has few peers. His sponsorship of the Velvet Underground, whether exploitative or not, wound up taking the New York based rock and noise ensemble across the country and exposing it to scores of folks as interested in the art world as experimental rock music. While performing live at Andy Warhol’s travelling “Exploding Plastic Inevitable,” the filmmaker projected his absurd films of punishment, sleep and eating while the Lou Reed fronted group ran through its contentious live set.

Today, writers are necessitated to reach an audience that might have only the narrowest interests. And the craftsmen who are able to incorporate a wide array of applicable references and connections will be the ones to win not just favor and acclaim, but create important bodies of work.

Regurgitation + Validity

Achieving all of the artistic credence in the world and approaching arts writing from this holistic vantage point is a lofty goal. Consistency is key, but in the era of digital quickness and constant reiterations, it will be difficult to maintain a unique voice amidst the maelstrom of posting and linking.

Keeping clear of re-stating too many facts and figures from other sites and instead interpreting each and setting it in a framework so that one’s readership can easily understand the information is going to be as important as being the first to get out an article or a post. Working with other people’s facts has an upside and a downside. With endless quoting, it’s difficult to take a writer too seriously. But again, when the information is explained to a specific audience within a framework that’s applicable to them and their lives, making use of other’s information shouldn’t become a problem.

What’s next in terms of money, jobs and what it all looks like is as of yet to be determined. All of this, though, will be broadly applicable when that next step – whatever it is – takes place.