I saw a critique/director decimate an artist, publically after viewing the work they had done, because they did not meet a certain standard.
Art is a failure, first because it never is exactly like you imagined, and never a failure because it takes off. People in between are crucial too. Standards unless written or articulated clearly are merely feelings. - I remember standing on stage in costume and character, feeling, not good or bad, but that - feeling of Meh! - A coldness - mediocrity - technically the play was perfect, the artists were great, but what was I feeling? Ennui on stage in the middle of the play!
Feelings of happiness and euphoria from seeing a piece of art that is aesthetic, synchronous, mellifluous, breathtaking - and other things that connect to the feelings of the audience. We cannot take the standards for granted.
Setting standards is necessary for the artist - they too deserve the standard, as do the audience. It is not about the adulation that they get - that still is objective. Meeting a standard, and a high one helps you with your feelings.
Still, articulating what standards are, markers are is very crucial, otherwise it is basically like stringing paltitudes about your favourite artists and calling them a standard. Sit down, do the exercise, as questions, identify.
As an artist and as a community you have to decide that standard and that benchmarker for art. It means, we stand and examine all the art, the ones assigned the label good, and bad. It demands a process of investing in a constant dialogue, as a process not as a final - summation. It involves humility, honesty and audacity in the face of criticism and skepticism. It involves you moving beyond shame from watching your failures. And, still the standards change - based on a situation that we are in. They are not set in stone.
In one area, however, there is no compromise on what the marker or standard is - kindness. Public shaming, humiliation because you differ in your idea of what art is - should not be considered markers of standards in people. People deserve a higher standard in life.
