Editors for visual artists
Brian from Fitzroyalty sent me the link for this awesome blog, Self Vs Self, which is about a visual artist who is forging her own career path. He thought there might be parallels between the artist (Hazel Dooney) and how independent lit types can self-publish and manage their own careers without going through more (potentially exploitative) commercial channels – and there is. Definitely worth a read.
Soooo… I got to thinking about how writers can use the internet to self-publish work now, and how many people lament this fact, and how one of the tirades against ‘blogging’ is that IT’S NOT EDITED. (!!!) And in fact, one of the things I worry about with the increase in expectation of free online content is that less people will be edited and thus the quality of really beautiful, engaging long-form writing will decline. But then, in the context of thinking about Art Vs Art, it struck me that visual artists don’t really have editors at all (do they?).
So I asked this on facebook and twitter:
Editor is to writer as ?? is to artist?
There were lots of responses, including: agent, curator, critic, creative directors, clients… but none of those things is a direct match, I think.
Not having an editor hasn’t stopped visual artists making amazing works – I guess an artist gets feedback from many people, like curators, audience, critics etc… and writers do too. (Audience = readers, curators = publishers, critics = critics, etc…) So theoretically for a writer, not ever being edited could be ok.
However, that idea goes against my firm belief that every piece I have ever had edited has emerged a stronger piece. (There might be an argument in here somewhere for ‘proof’ that writing is indeed a craft and not an art.) Being edited has made me a stronger writer. Maybe I might make those improvements myself over a longer period of time (and maybe not) but man… the idea of sending unedited work out into the world scares the hell outta me. (Neon Pilgrim would be nothing without Jessie from Spit and Polish. Seriously.) I don’t know how visual artists do it. Any ideas?
Thuy Linh Nguyen
9:52pm, 15 Oct 09
We writers need editors because sometimes we transcribe our thoughts in a clunky or confusing way.
Visual artists, on the other hand, are provoking a less articulate response? There’s more leeway/room for error? Therefore, they don’t need an editor to fine-tune their message?
Benjamin Solah
10:26am, 16 Oct 09
Really interesting question. I love comparing writers to different artists.
I’m not sure there’s an answer… perhaps writing is an art more reliant on perfectionism and visual art is more raw?
Elena
11:17am, 16 Oct 09
As someone with no visual artistic talent whatsoever (and dubious hand-eye coordination), I agree with Thuy Linh Nguyen’s comment.
Maybe mentor would be more appropriate? But then, writers have mentors too…
D
8:06pm, 16 Oct 09
Perhaps visual artists could actually do with some manner of Editor?
Of course this depends what you mean with visual arts. In many fields like design, say of book covers, an editor does get a say.
Rika
8:08pm, 16 Oct 09
Well, surely, if one can get hold of an editor than that would be of great help. But I am too old to beg hundreds of agents and publishers to at least have a look at my work. By the time that might happen I will have hooked into my grave. So I will let the internet people decide whether or not they like my stuff. And Yes! I think it is an art and as every art there is a bit of craftsmenship needed to be able to improve. And everybody interested in the craft will be able to master it with or without an editor. So I might not become an author of epic novels, but at least I will have a lot of fun with writing my pamphlets instead of not writting at all, just because the masters of the trade aren’t interested. Sometimes the power lies in being a lay(man)woman
Johanna
4:09pm, 19 Oct 09
In my experience at work, editing often picks up typos and confusion that I can’t see in my own writing but it also happens in the other direction that I see other’s writing with a fresh pair of eyes – I am not sure what terms to use for visual art – and was wondering if editing is the term used in music!
lisa
6:18am, 20 Oct 09
I think the term in music is… producing?
Ryan
10:51am, 13 Nov 09
I wish that visual artists had editors – or that I had an interpreter along with me. I agree that visual art is generally less articulate than literary art. As literary production goes further online, all we can do is maintain our individual diligence and hope that good examples float to the top.
lisa
10:53am, 13 Nov 09
I don’t necessarily think that visual art is less articulate than written art! There are articulate and less-articulate examples of both…