"Romancing the Looky-Loos" by Dave Hickey

"Romancing the Looky-Loos" by Dave Hickey is an exploration of the current art culture. Hickey begins with a conversation between Waylon Jennings, a new up and coming musician, and himself. They discuss the difference between fans. Jennings states that when playing for people who know you and your music, you're free to do what you want because you know your audience understands you and you're free to experiment. However, when one plays at a concert they are playing for a group of people who are there because you're "famous" and they "want to be like you." He distinguishes these fans in groups, "looky -loos"- people just observing with no real passion, "spectators"- people who like what's in at the time, and" participants"- those who move on once something becomes popular. This is than related to the art world. There will always be those who like a work of art because the artist is currently famous and really have no knowledge of what the work means or its significance and there are those who will hate a work of art because its popular or cliché. Many artists who come into fame are accused of "selling- out." Hickey states that participants increase the value of work by buying it. Once an artist’s work is known to sell it will only increase in value.
This view on the art world seems to be a bit discouraging; yet based on truth. There is a harsh world out there of politics that come along with anything. Art included. There will always be critics and audiences judging ones work. Nothing is exempt from that.
However, if one starts playing into those roles they start to lose the importance of why one makes art or what the art itself really stands for. While criticism exists, and "looky -loos," and "spectators," there are actually artists out there whose concern isn't just about the audience but about making work because it's important to them despite the harsh world around them.