The Social Responsibility of the Artist - by George Boas

1. This speaks about how we can’t tar people who fall into a certain category with the same brush. In relation to creative people, you can be labelled a creative but within this, there are a broad range of processes, motives and attitudes. The quote mentions a ‘problem to society’ suggesting that within one category, there are good and bad examples, although it can’t be as clear cut as this sounds. 
2. It isn't the medium used to create art that causes an issue when considering social responsibility, but it is the ‘kinds of pictures’. What are their motives, opinions, message, attitudes, thought processes? However, it could be argued that other factors including media and method of distribution could enhance the impact of these artworks. 
3. This suggests that although as humans we form our own opinions of artwork, we are only actually exposed to a certain ‘type’ in the first place. We therefore do not get to experience enough to get a grip on ‘how relative taste is’. It raises the issue of censorship and selectivity. 
4. The purpose of an artwork does not remain the same forever. It is also possible that it will be appreciated for a different purpose or reason entirely, for example appreciating artwork for its pure aesthetic and not for its deeper message is totally understandable. This could be a positive or a negative, for example the artists initial intentions could be misconstrued into something unrelated entirely. ‘as soon as one lives, breathes, speaks, acts, one runs the risk of being misunderstood.’
5. The idea that ‘admiration is often based on conflicting interpretation’ is an interesting concept. Maybe the true beauty of artwork is the differing opinions everyone has on it. This concept messes with the idea of social responsibility and shows that the artist has very little control of how his work is interpreted once is has left their hands: ‘for an artist cannot avoid interpretation.’ [Relating to Barthes’ ‘Death of the Author’]
6. The idea that the meaning of a picture is wholly dependent on someones interpretation is unreasonable. The image itself limits the concepts that a viewer can draw from it. This restores the idea that the artist does have a method of imbuing a concept into their work for discussion by their audience. If a message can be passed on, it can be argued that the artist does have a responsibility. It ‘does not constitute a flat subjectivism’. 
7. Interpretations of artwork are not just about liking or disliking. They are also about acceptance and rejection by society. This is where there may be conflict with in the artist as to whether to please society or put across the message they truly want to. 
8. This quote says that there is no need to take into account the movement to which a piece of art belongs, which suggests that it should be viewed as an individual piece. However, taking this away from its true context could lead to a misinterpretation of the artist’s intentions. 
9. ‘It is, however, the responsibility of the intelligent man to be as wide awake as possible, to understand his age, however complex, and to perceive his own place in it.’ Does this mean as a creator or a viewer, or both? This suggests looking past censorship (as mentioned in number 3) and taking it upon yourself to be aware of what is going on around you. This leads on to the quote: ’Responsibility does not always lie in the field of leadership, sometimes it lies in the field of interpretation.’