In a message dated 1/8/2002 4:18:56 PM Eastern Standard Time, dalila@R... writes:
<< What is elitist (please note correct spelling) about the notion that one can apply standards to determine whether one work of art is better than another, one genre of art is more sophisticated, beautiful, and affecting (and thus, "better") than another - at least to the person setting those standards and defining that "hierarchy of tastes". >>
in case this was a question...there is nothing wrong (at least, as far as i can see and, i'm just stating my humble opinion...if that's alright...) with having a set of standards by which one could judge the relative merits of different works of art. in fact, to have personal preferences, one must do that. however, there is something wrong when one claims their standards to be objective when, those standards and the application of those standards are actually subjective. further, it is also wrong to then hold one's subjectively chosen standards above the standards of others simply because one has subjectively decided they are. this is 'elitism' as i understand it.
mike
|