I just recently failed an Art assignment that was to write a Magazine article of comparison and analysis of two art works based on prestigious theory and educated points of the artist. Then shortly after handing it in, it dawned on me.

If a REAL art journalist wrote a column based on educated theory ... they would be fired ... or unemployed. Either way no one would read it. It occurred to me that people don't want pick up a magazine and feel like they're reading a text book. An article is something that has been developed into a form of entertainment, to get you thinking about culture, soul and humanity. Take my essay for instance.

We had to discuss the visual fact of the artworks and the history of the artist and how they relate. I chose my topic to be "Graffiti - Our worlds anonymous master pieces." I got to 250 words of a two page essay and gave up. This is because I am not a theorist. I am not educated ... well I am but I never pay attention in class. I should've focused on what I know.

Graffiti is extremely grounded. Almost any one can perfect their art, study Art History at university, put their work on a canvas and display it in a museum for all the shiny upper-class folk of our society to tilt their heads at. BUT (despite the majority of graffiti being the result of bratty vandals who have amateurishly carved their "highly evolved" genitalia into train walls) it takes a lot more to risk being arrested, severely fined, and then forced to destroy your work. It is something only a true passionate artist could perform. Graffiti is a display of the ARTIST more than any other form of art. It beholds a life's story behind the personality of the artist sprayed or painted onto a brick wall for the WORLD to see, not just the rich people. It's sometimes crude but it's still a representation of a different soul in every sweep of a spray can. It can represent the people of a country, or even just a small block of houses in the suburbs. NONE are the same (unless a signature of the artist of course ... but then still). It adds beauty to a concrete jungle, it's political, it's freedom, it's a voice, it's amazing. And it makes people think.

THIS is what I could have written about. It would've filled so many more words and I would've handed in a proper article that serves the purpose of an article. I might still have failed for my lack of insight, but I would've handed in something I was proud of.

So next time I have one of these assignments (no doubt there will be more) I will not let myself be convinced that conforming to an "educated" standard, I will not try to fit a mold when I know I can create my own shape. I will think of these graffiti artists, and go against the tide in order to produce something truly unique, something that shows ME between the lines of my academic failure.

I urge you to think of them to. Unless you are one ... in that case ...

Kudos