Pop: Chapter 11b

    I do a quick scan to see if what Dad wrote was really as bad as Thad suggested.

Anything created for the masses cannot be considered 'real art.'

    It's worse than I imagined.

Such works of 'pop art' are beneath the qualifications of true artistic merit. [...] Merely copying and altering the works of others is also beneath the standing of those artists who have dedicated their lives into pouring their souls into their works.  Lowering one's standard, just to try and influence the masses is a poor substitute for artistic genius and the creative process.  While the production of commercially available works can be profitable, the artist's true talent is lost within the broad appeal of the unappreciative public.  That is not success; it is selling out.

    That doesn't track with what Dad normally says.  He prefers a more rural, naturalistic style, regardless if it includes 'pop' elements or not.  In fact, the only times he worked outside of this style was when his art professors forced him to do so, such as his movies that are so popular to a certain type of clientele.  Dad did try to do some work for popular consumption, but he never liked it.  He didn't begrudge anyone who did, though.  He felt that quantity, as in mass popularity, doesn't always meant that quality suffered.  Maybe he changed his mind at one point. I go back to reading.

Trying to make art out of mass-produced images is useless and wasteful. [...] wasteful of the artist's talent and useless in the grand showing of the greater art scene [...] or the world at large.

    Those brackets and ellipses are worrisome.  They are suggestive that the writer is trying to force his point across in ways that cited work did not.  I've seen it so many times during my proofreading career.  It is usually a sign of weakness.  Not what I would expect from this newspaper.

    I get a notification beep from my Mac.  Ten-thirty.  I'll just have enough time to finish getting ready and drive to Pulse for the signing. 

    I close up everything before logging off.  I definitely don't want Sam to read this until I get to talk with Dad.  This editorial gets way too close to things he didn't want Sam to know.  I also don't think Sam will understand some of the techniques this guy is using.  Sam probably won't be able access the article easily, unless one of his friends has a subscription and tells him.  Like that will happen.

    I check my phone at the charger.  It's just about finished.  Should be ready by the time I go.  Hated to leave in on so much last night, but it was necessary.

    Don't think about any of this right now.  I have a book signing to get to.