Public Taste

Public taste ! That was the word of the day for me. It was in a small debate about litterature in Tunisia when a participant (who turned out to be working in a publishing house) mentionned it by saying : we cannot publish and sell every book that is submitted for us because we are responsible of protecting the public taste that we respect and guarantee a minimum level for our readers. According to her and some other participants, not everyone has the right to write or produce. Not everyone is creative or smart to « bring a plus » or add something to the Tunisian artistic heritage.  They think that because of the development of communication technologies and mostly the freedom of expression after the revolution, we are witnessing a new phenomen where everyone claims  to be an artist and writes something trying to share it with others. Also, this group finds that unfortunately, some of the famous writers we are familiar with their names  are over-rated and don’t deserve that much of recognition. While on the other hand, others who are worth the respect and the following ,are not enough famous need more appreciation. Finally,  they believe that it’s our fault as a community and youth specifically to not know about them and just read what the « over-rated » writers produce .

Well, my question is, based on what criteria you  judge a book or an art work in general if it is worth the recognition and the success he got ? Based on what criteria you give the right to someone to write and produce and deprive someone else of that right ?How do you know if he’s creative enough or not ? is it based on your personal taste ?Your surveys results ?The critic experts articles ?

Actually, don’t you think that the commercial artists you diminished their value changed millions of readers lives ?Made them smile even for a second or take them to another imaginary world none of the artists you’re defending could guide them too ?Don’t you see any creativity or power in attracting people to your thoughts and keeping them attached waiting for the upcoming books ?

Of course I cannot deny the fact that there are writers who deserve to be more known and under the spot. But that dosen’t mean that an artist is more important than others. Each one has his own special style that attracts a specific kind of followers or readers. So why stopping someone from writing under the pretext they are not enough creative or smart to do so. Why saying it’s a bad phenomen we’re witnessing that everyone is trying to write and publish? Let everyone express their thoughts and feelings .They are humans and they are creating something human. So for sure other humans on this earth will connect to it. Even if it reaches only one person’s heart ,that’s more than enough. Because isn’t that what art is all about :seeing what you live,feel,wish,hope for in someone else’s work ? getting inspiration ,motivation and power to survive and continue the daily struggle of life ? isn’t art letting all the energy prisonned inside of us get liberated and shine on others ? I believe art is the best way to link people and reach cohesion. So why cutting this beautiful link and depriving some people of their right to live and to inspire others to live too ?Everyone has his own problems, concerns, hopes and dreams that makes our different tastes and ways to see life. So why looking for a « public taste » that extract this beautiful enriching difference that makes us humans and just turns us into animals who look for the same things ?

Photos: Medina Book Club