I danced once at my cousins wedding, and I didn’t have the slightest idea of how to dance. I was dancing out of joy and at that moment I didn’t mind the fact that I probably looked like a bumbling, stumbling, drunk lunatic. The feeling that I remember stronger than the joy I had while dancing was the laughs and snickers erupting throughout my whole extended family as my dancing was played on the wedding film. I never danced again, I never let my immediate emotions dictate my actions again. I share with you this story only to underscore the courage and determination that John Singer Sargent had to have mustered up to ever paint again after Madame X, the greatest work that he had produced up to that point in his life, was publicly criticized and ostracized. Had John Singer Sargent shuddered in the face of his many critics and stopped painting altogether, he would have never discovered his artistry with watercolors.
How I felt when my cousins were laughing at me
I feel that in todays society we have people who can grow to be as talented and revered as John Singer Sargent, but these people are not being given the chance to explore the art as closely as Sargent did. Sargent was encouraged to explore the arts as a child, by his mother, and he eventually was granted the prestigious opportunity to train with Carolus-Duran. Society, the little cross-section of it that I have seen, does not value the arts as it had done once before. Painting, sculpting, musical instruments, and just the arts in general are foreign to me. My best representation of myself on paper is still a stick figure because in my schooling, drawing was not deemed as a useful skill to have.
I have never mastered an instrument because my parents and counselors informed me that taking the cheap, boring, and generic art history requirement would be an “easy A” and then I would not have to waste my time in the coming years in a band or orchestra class. I am amazed when I see people draw themselves and the drawing looks real and I wish that I knew how to play the piano or the violin or any instrument when I hear the performers in the subway putting up a concert with a single instrument.
John Singer Sargents life career was possible due to the motherly support he received and the time in which he lived, a time in which the arts and humanities were bustling. Too many times today stress is placed only in the areas that yield monetary returns. The problem is a societal issue that has developed over time and cannot go away overnight. I think the key to remember is that Jon Singer Sargent was taught “geography, arithmetic, reading, and other disciplines under his father’s tutelage” as well as the arts and three languages. Today, children are taught how to get the most points on a test. Today, our minds do not develop to the extent that minds did in Sargents time.
The times have definitely changed from when John Singer Sargent was growing up. I do agree that children should be taught more things in life, so that they are more cultured and well-rounded individuals. I enjoyed reading your intro, it gave me a good laugh while building up to the greatness of John Singer Sargent’s talent and perseverance. I also agree that we should experience all the different arts and activities out in the world, so we as humans can appreciate the talent that exists in our world.
Ahmed, your take on Madame X was hilarious, and I liked your insightfulness. You took his work and deeply integrated it into your personal life, and societal values. Indeed, American culture has shifted to neoliberalism, thus we can not “waste time on the humanities.” However, Sargent used the most of his abilities and wasn’t afraid to muster up his creativity during his era. Because of this, he is an inspiration and legend for many artists. I hope you won’t give up to l learn how to make better self-portraits as we emerge deeper into this course.
Truly, it is a shame: a shame to see how the arts have lost support over the years. Many times, those who can draw very well did not develop that skill in school. No, school is too solely based on math, English, science, and social studies courses to teach art (Much less to engage the student in art). I was taught how to play the recorder in the past, but only for a year, so you can imagine how fast I forgot pretty much everything. As I read this biography of Sargent and the article in Harper’s magazine, I find myself distracted by the smallest things. I blame it on the lack of exposure to art ever since the dawn of my birth. But, that’s just me…
I really like your introduction. I thought it was hilarious but at the same time it provides a great example for the main idea of your post. Children now are not encouraged to create art. They are encouraged to go to school, study, and get good grades. Even though that is not such a bad thing, a lot of us are definitely lacking in creativity.