Remember when Elaine asked the all important question

"Are you sponge worthy?"

So ok, this is not a walk down Seinfeld memory lane.

But much of what I have been reading and hearing lately makes me ponder the question of merit.

Artistic merit???? Perhaps.

I recieved my BS degree in Graphic Design and I have some basic experience in the field of writing (both technical and creative) as well as architecture.

I remember a discussion in art history class on the merits of Norman Rockwell. It is true that some artists did not take Norman seriously as a painter. He was what one would call a sell out. But it was he who captured the essence of American humanity. Remember the little African American girl in the beautiful dress, Ruby Bridges, with federal marshals being walked past a wall defaced by racist graffiti the first integrated classes. The Problem We All Live With was a painting which dealt with American issues of shame.

I have discussed my love of Steven King (and even did a practice theses on him) with a couple writing teachers, only to face their expressions of exasperation. You see brother Steven is not taken seriously among the critical writers of this world.

I had taken a class where we discussed the "classical hero" in great works like The Epic of Gilgamesh, The Odyssey, and yes we compare the classic hero to that of Jesus Christ in the Bible.

I think I exasperated my technical writing teacher by comparing those "classic heros" to that of traveling Jack in the Talisman, by Steven King. I just found out while researching this article that it is going to be an ABC mini-series in 2012.

The Tallisman, by Steven King and Peter Strab

Steven King is the writer I credit with first wanting to read ..... for fun.

Remember fun?????

It may be true that fun is subjective, and of course art is in the eye of the beholder. What happens when judgement on our perspective of fun or art is held against us. What if it keeps you from getting a job, an apartment, a friend, a way out of a traffic ticket or some other infringement of law?

Is that fair?

Does it matter if it is fair?

You could always find a group that "likes" you and perhaps bed down and declare yourself home. What if that home changes? New members arrive or old member begin to see you and find your "art" distasteful.

What to do then?

Is the "home" big enough for the artistic cliques it holds? Do some cliques gain strength and bully the distasteful from the home, or can they coexist? Perhaps not in harmony, or "one big melting pot", but in contrast to each other.

Or should the distasteful, take their "art" and find friendlier foundations?

What is your take on this?
Be respectful and of course remember CoH.