Anonymous asked: Actually, I completely disagree with that last person. Art is only so with an audience, and I think artist should absolutely defend their art, because art isn't just some pittling little emotional experience. It's also an intellectual, communal experience. If it wasn't communal people would create and not share it with anyone. You shouldn't back off from discussion, and I'm glad you haven't.

Yeah, but I don’t think that person was suggesting that I back off from the discussion. But, I’ve actually done many works that I’ve never shared with anyone, and some that I’ve only shared with friends and family. All in all, I don’t actually mind some of the harsher critiques, because it does make for such good discussion. It just seems like so far, the people who feel strongly about my work in a negative way also happen to be personalizing it, and making assumptions based off of their high emotions. I suppose, though, that the same could be said for those who feel strongly about my work in a positive way, too.

~ C.J. Johnson