Persuasion vs Dislodgment

A reader commented on my posting, "Humor and Humorlessness" (also, I think, referencing my definition of art as being any human creation devised to induce a reframing of perspective) by saying that

Good artists produce art that agrees with one's worldview. Great artists create art that changes/challenges one's worldview from which one can never return. Humor is similar.

I replied:

The word "worldview" is doing a lot of work there

He replied:

Cause I hate writing weltanschauung [a particular philosophy or view of life]

And I replied (lightly edited)

Ha.

But I think framing is a much improved, uh, framing.

Worldview and weltanschauung are opinions; thought objects that can be thrust outward and categorized and examined. Framing is pure subjectivity; how you see things, rather than what you see. Framing is about the subject, not the object, so it's impossible to quantify. Framing's not "for" something. It's just a viewing angle; a perspective.

Your phrasing seems to urge artists to hector, coax, and irritate people into thinking some specific thing. I hate art that manipulates in this way. That's not art, it's something more in the realm of argument, salesmanship, and indoctrination.

Shifts of perspective happen at a far deeper level than mere persuasion. It's not movement toward an idea or opinion. It's movement, period. Dislodgement!

If humor and art are meant to dislodge, then any reframing is a success. There will be as many reframings as there are observers (that's how art always works, anyway, like it or not!). The mere fact of a shift - unfreezing creaky perspectives - is sufficient. Doesn't matter where it winds up. It's not about being persuaded (which is crass), but being induced to refresh one's framing (which is inspiring). 

An audience can be "moved", "transported", or "uplifted" (our language groks it better than our conscious minds do!). Such an experience is among the most beautiful delights of the human experience, and it's small-minded and grubby to try to leverage it by pushing audiences to move, transport, and uplift to some specific position. That's how authoritarian propoganda works, and it's effective. But pure inspiration loses much of its oomph when willfully channeled here or there. Manipulative art (e.g. the average multiplex film) earns well, but it's vastly less affecting than art that pays little heed to a targeted landing site.

Dislodgement/reframing is the basis for all elevation; of all the Epiphanies, Eurekas, and Inspirations. We each do our own framing, but it's contagious, and some have a talent for inducing it. Those who do so with an agenda are con men, manipulators, salesmen, and monsters. Those who do so benignly (not to some charming result, but, once again, without regard at all for result) are artists.

He replied:

I don't believe artists implore people to change their minds. An example would be the image of Van Gogh's room all askew with his table in view. After someone sees that it alters the way they look at the world. I don't think van Gogh was making propaganda. I almost believe artists are artists because they must express themselves, not because they want to convince others.

...and I replied:

I get the feeling you side with my perspective, but you're not quite grokking the distinction I'm drawing.

I don't want artists to express themselves. Ever. I want them to get the hell out of their own way and let their work sing. Artists who "express themselves" are the ilk I keep endlessly tossing spitballs at: singers who became singers because they wanted to be singers, not because they wanted to sing.

By declining to "express oneself" and remaining pure-heartedly open to the process of creating art, that's when the deep stuff happens and your deepest, wisest self expresses beyond your conscious volition. It's your subjectivity - deep awareness - not your prosaic thoughts and opinions. Not THINGS. As a fan of creative work who seeks elevation (i.e. reframing), I don't want to sniff anyone's THINGS. Kindly get your THINGS out of my face!

Perspective isn't a thought. Isn't an opinion. Isn't a thing. It's subject, not object. It's the part that chooses, that shifts, that pays attention, that FRAMES.