We make judgements - well or otherwise

While we were in St. Petersburg, Florida on our way to our winter destination, we took the time to see the Dali Museum. Wow! I am so glad we did. What a talent – though that mere word scarcely touches the truth. How can one person do so much in such wide variety in just one lifetime? And when you see and are mesmerized by these works of art, so many of which tell numerous stories within stories, how can you possibly make any kind of satisfactory assessment?

Salvador Dali did not complete his studies in art school because he judged his teachers were not competent to assess his ability/skill/talent. At the time, his teachers probably thought he was brash/crazy/naive/overwhelmingly vain. I wonder what any of them might say if they had the opportunity to review the whole body of his work now. I think both parties could claim some truth to their judgement of the other. Surely any judgement would be purely subjective as, I believe, most judgement is. An example; I think...

I remember an English literature mid-term test I wrote my first year of university. You need to know that English lit was never my forte. When the professor returned our papers, she had given me a grade of D; failure. When she afforded an opportunity for the students to respond, I commented that I did not see how I could have possibly failed the test. She offered that I did not give the correct answers. I countered that it would be impossible to give anything but the right answers since everyone of the questions on the test began, “In your opinion, what/why/how/who...?” The professor then offered that I had not given the answers she was expecting. To which – you've got it – I responded that she did not ask me to tell her what she was expecting to read. My paper got upgraded, begrudgingly, to a C. The final exam on the course contained no such questions. I did not think she was much of a teacher. She, no doubt, concluded I was not much of a student. Both very subjective judgements.

Some of what I saw in the Dali Museum impressed me tremendously. Some of it seemed just foolishness – not art. For example, a rotor-dial telephone with a lobster perched on top of it. Art? Some of the works I did not understand at all, though I was impressed by the practical skills displayed. And the whole collection together did make a positive contribution to my personal sense of well-being – which is a criteria I would use in assessing art as art.

I know enough about art to say “Wow!” when it is in me. I do not always get the “Wow!” when someone else sees it. Judgement is subjective. Pretty basic conclusion, I think, even when simply judging/assessing other people. You and I might not agree on what makes us feel/think/say “Wow!” about Jane or John Whoever. Our judgement may even be incorrect (according to ALL the facts). It is, however, what it is and depending on the particular individual – Jane or John or Salvador Dali – may have next to no impression on the other or an utterly life-changing impact. Perhaps if both parties to such assessments can remember it is all very subjective, very personal, drama or trauma would be less likely to ensue. Does this make any sense?  Comments?