If you share your art—whether it’s an image, music, writing, etc.—it’s no longer 100% yours (I’m not talking about money or intellectual property).
If you share your art you can’t expect others to interpret it the same way you do, because they absolutely will not. Sure, you can say, “this is what it’s about,” but no one else has had the same life experiences as you, so no one else will look at this painting, or hear these lyrics, or read this fic and get the same thing out of it that you do.
And they’re not obligated to.
But isn’t that the coolest thing? Every piece of art you make becomes something new for each person who consumes it! Like alternate universes for your work. :D
Incidentally, that’s why I’ve always had a note in my pinned post saying that if you want to tag a ship or whatever in my art or fics, go for it. Even if I don’t ship something or don’t intend for the image/writing to be seen a certain way, why should that stop someone else from interpreting it in whatever way makes them most happy?
Art is something no one will ever be able to control, and that’s great.
I have never slammed the reblog button so hard in my life but this is so true.
Not even to just fanart or fanfiction- but ANYTHING any content creator makes. Novels, poetry, paintings, etc…
First day of my 3D Design I class, my professor had the class sit down as she showed us one of the sculptors she was commissioned to design, create and install at the DFW International Airport. Titled ‘Standing Ovation’, It was a sculpture tower of opened hands, cast from different types of people in bronze, resin and terra cotta, constructed from steel, arranged to look like a flower. The hands at the bottom (green) are from older people, the middle (white) from middle aged people and the top (red) by children. She wanted to create something that everyone from around the world who came through the airport could relate to, no matter the language or culture they came from. She chose clapping, because everyone claps!
The next slide she showed us was of an article someone did detailing how her sculpture was to bless those who came to the airport with a sculpture of prayer.
I will never forget how she looked at us and said very seriously.
“As artists, it does not matter the meaning that we put behind our art. There will be those who look at it and see another message. They will take your art and turn it into something else. Once it is out there in the world- and especially on the internet, it no longer just belongs to you or for those you intended it for.”
Up close hands because it’s cool.
