I've been thinking about this for years now, but only recently have I been able to put it together coherently. I'm inclined to call these different levels or grades of art, but that might make me sound elitist. In my life these ideas mostly apply to music, but they could apply to other forms of art too. Here's what I'm talking about, you decide!
Level 1- the Performance Artist: this artist strives to represent something pre-existing, often without any personal interpretation added. In music this would be a cover band.
Level 2- the Composer: this artist creates a work that is intended to be displayed or performed in its original form repeatedly. In music this might include the majority of classical and pop/rock/country/etc artists.
Level 3- the Structured Improviser: this artist creates a "skeleton" that is intended to be "fleshed out" somewhat differently every time it is displayed or performed. In music this would describe a lot of jazz and blues.
Level 4- the Spontaneous Improviser: this artist creates a work in front of the audience with little or no prior planning. The work may never be duplicated again, or may be a future "skeleton" for type 3. In music this is rare, but its sometimes found in jazz and avant-garde music.
So, here's my big question(s): are any of these "better" than the others? are any more "creative"? can you think of other types?
Thursday, September 2, 2010
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
