The 3-level rule of art

This is a little guideline I use whenever I’m considering something that’s “artsy,” and trying to decide whether or not it’s actually “art.”

If something has one level of abstraction, it’s popular art - which means it’s entertaining but not significant or lasting. This applies to most movies and a surprising number of books (Angels and Demons is thinly-veiled commentary on church corruption).

If something has two levels of abstraction, it’s faux-art - the artist has gone past the “popular art” connection, but has not yet managed to find “true” deeper meaning. For example, I-Robot involves a battle between “good” and “USR,” the commanding entity of legions of mindless robots sporting little red lights. The movie is first about individuality, and second about the evils of communism (not surprising, given when Asimov lived).

If something has three levels of abstraction, then it’s real art. You can hang it on your wall, stick it in your home, or place it on your shelf without shame of being judged poorly. Hawthorne’s short story “The Birthmark,” for example, is (generally speaking) first about a scientist too obsessed with the mechanics of science, second about how obsession leads to a loss of perspective, and third, how losing one’s perspective leads to doing terrible things with good intentions.

So next time you’re at a gallery or a bookstore or in fact anywhere you might be buying “art,” put your purchase through this little test. If it doesn’t pass, make it a gift to your emo friends.