"Art doesn't exist without an audience" is somewhat oversimplifying things. It doesn't exist without a community that allows discourse on what you're doing (other artists, critics,....) but does not necessarily require an audience. Same is true of sports: you can play sports without an audience, but you need other people doing it. A game of Tennis is no fun without anyone on the other side of the net. Even individual sports (Mountaineering, Surfing, Golf, whatever) requires others doing it also, whom you always relate to. Incidentally, I guess that's true of any human activity, so probably pathetically trivial to state. Sorry about that.
I really appreciated this piece on many levels. My Dad, who we lost this year, was a huge Elvis fan and I always find it interesting to compare the Elvis he “knew” to the one from my childhood memory.
I also love your last paragraph. The relationship between art and audience is a source of constant fascination for me. Normally the discussion is about how audience interpretation affects the meaning of art, but the idea that audience shapes art even before it’s created is both interesting and obvious, I guess. I’m now thinking about the way that an audience expects to be entertained but is still so appreciative when it happens. I can’t think of a situation with more reciprocal joy than a really successful concert.
"Art doesn't exist without an audience" is somewhat oversimplifying things. It doesn't exist without a community that allows discourse on what you're doing (other artists, critics,....) but does not necessarily require an audience. Same is true of sports: you can play sports without an audience, but you need other people doing it. A game of Tennis is no fun without anyone on the other side of the net. Even individual sports (Mountaineering, Surfing, Golf, whatever) requires others doing it also, whom you always relate to. Incidentally, I guess that's true of any human activity, so probably pathetically trivial to state. Sorry about that.
When the Telopines were busking on the Royal Mile I remember a woman came out from a nearby knitwear shop and begged us to stop
You. Begged you to stop.
Still. Better than indifference, eh?
I really appreciated this piece on many levels. My Dad, who we lost this year, was a huge Elvis fan and I always find it interesting to compare the Elvis he “knew” to the one from my childhood memory.
I also love your last paragraph. The relationship between art and audience is a source of constant fascination for me. Normally the discussion is about how audience interpretation affects the meaning of art, but the idea that audience shapes art even before it’s created is both interesting and obvious, I guess. I’m now thinking about the way that an audience expects to be entertained but is still so appreciative when it happens. I can’t think of a situation with more reciprocal joy than a really successful concert.