The eternal question is, does the artist lose control of his art the minute it leaves his brush, pen, or mold? Does the audience have a right to interpretation? Can the art take on a life of its own? More importantly, should it?
Pygmalion is a story of a man molding a woman into what his vision of perfection is. It is the story of an artist, Professor Higgins, and his creation, Liza Doolittle. That being said, it is my belief the artist loses control of his art the minute it leaves his brush, pen, or mold. Once an artist materializes his vision it becomes open to interpretation whether it was meant to or not. At that point, an artist no longer has control over what people think of his art. When an artistic concept is in one’s mind, it is nothing but their own thought and they are constantly in control of it. No one can else can envision it without help from the artist himself and then he can manipulate the concept to make people visualize whatever it is he wants them to. When the artistic vision leaves his mind it is no longer only him meditating on it. He is not there constantly to control what people think of it, so people must construct their own interpretations. This is true especially when an artist’s creation is a breathing and thinking human being like Liza. In the beginning of the story, when Liza is still a wretched pauper, Higgins begins to envision her as a socialite. At this point, Higgin’s creation is still in the phase of only being a thought in his mind. He has a vision and Liza is nothing but clay. As the play and Liza’s transformation progresses, his artistic thought translates into her physical transformation. As it does he loses control of the hold he had on her because she becomes his physical art and is no longer only his intent.
I believe an audience has the right to interpretation. If an artist wishes his art to be viewed and admired, he must realize that the people doing the viewing and admiring all have thoughts, emotions, and experiences that differ from his own. This leads to different interpretations of his art and I believe it should. If art is made for audience consumption then they have a right to interpret it as they please. However, respects should be paid to the artist and an audience should at least try to understand the artists’ original intent. In Liza’s case, I believe she especially had a right to personal interpretation. As the person being turned into a social masterpiece, she should be able to interpret her transformation and it’s repercussions in any way she chooses.
With different people giving art different meanings, art can take on a life of its own. Art is only what its audience interprets it to be. Therefore it is something slightly different to every person. When it’s slightly different to everyone else, it becomes less of what the artist intended it to be and more of a personal experience. It then takes on a life of its own the creator did not intend it to. This is the exact case with Liza. Higgins’ expects Liza to be simply a tool for creation but instead, as she interprets her own transformation, she becomes her own person and brings a life to her new persona that is her own. Because I believe that an audience has the right to interpret art as they choose, I also believe that art should take on a life of its own as a result.
I believe an audience has the right to interpretation. If an artist wishes his art to be viewed and admired, he must realize that the people doing the viewing and admiring all have thoughts, emotions, and experiences that differ from his own. This leads to different interpretations of his art and I believe it should. If art is made for audience consumption then they have a right to interpret it as they please. However, respects should be paid to the artist and an audience should at least try to understand the artists’ original intent. In Liza’s case, I believe she especially had a right to personal interpretation. As the person being turned into a social masterpiece, she should be able to interpret her transformation and it’s repercussions in any way she chooses.
With different people giving art different meanings, art can take on a life of its own. Art is only what its audience interprets it to be. Therefore it is something slightly different to every person. When it’s slightly different to everyone else, it becomes less of what the artist intended it to be and more of a personal experience. It then takes on a life of its own the creator did not intend it to. This is the exact case with Liza. Higgins’ expects Liza to be simply a tool for creation but instead, as she interprets her own transformation, she becomes her own person and brings a life to her new persona that is her own. Because I believe that an audience has the right to interpret art as they choose, I also believe that art should take on a life of its own as a result.