There's no such thing as "bad art"

There’s no such thing as “bad art.”

Literally.

It’s a totally made up concept that varies from person to person, culture to culture, time period to time period.

Put 5 critics in a room with a piece of art and each will have a totally different take on it. (And that’s not even addressing how critical tastes have emerged from and perpetuate systems of power, but I digress.)

Even if there WERE somehow objective measures that transcend politics, time, and space to align with some mysterious universal “art” decree, it STILL WOULDN’T BE USEFUL TO THINK ABOUT YOUR ART IN TERMS OF “GOOD” AND “BAD.”

Because how many of us torture ourselves with some punishing vision of “good art” that is only defined in opposition to what we are creating in any given moment?

And what does that get you?

When you judge your work as “bad,” you feel dejected and spend more time doubting yourself and less time actually CREATING.

When you think “I have to make this good,” how do you feel? Anxious or stressed?

What do you usually do when you feel anxious or stressed? You don’t compose a brilliant fucking symphony or write a masterpiece.

You tense up and head straight for Netflix or Instagram, am I right?

Worrying that your art is bad or obsessing over how to make good art is a useless activity that seems helpful but actually does the OPPOSITE of what it’s intended to do.

The next time your brain judges something you’ve created as bad, try “this is art” on for size and see how much more at ease you feel. Or if “art” is too loaded a word for you, try “I’m making a thing.”

Seriously.

It’s a totally unsexy thought & a subtle shift but it will change your relationship to creating.