By: Taylor Kindley
“It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors.”-Oscar Wilde
Oscar Wilde’s aphorism, “It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors.”, captures one of his most controversial and even insightful ideas, that art reveals more about those who experience it than about the world it depicts. Personally, I agree with Wilde’s point and statement. Every person brings in their own emotions, memories, and beliefs into art they interpret. For example, the same painting, film, or song can mean something entirely different to any individual because what they see in art often reflects who we are, or what we want to be.
This idea is especially prevalent in the music and performance industry, particularly Taylor Swift. Her songwriting has become a form of modern poetry. Her songs are constantly being depicted and criticized by millions around the world. Listeners and fans project their own heartbreak, hopes, and love into her lyrics. For example, in Swift’s song, “All Too Well (10 Minute Version)”, fans interpret the narrative as a deeply personal reflection of Swift’s own relationship history. While the song is rooted in her own perspective and feelings, its emotional power comes from how audiences identify and connect with it. Someone going through heartbreak or a break up might see it as a tragic love story, while someone else that has healed from heartbreak might see it as a testament to self-worth and growth. The art itself doesn’t change, but the meaning does depending on which individuals are listening.
Wilde’s statement also invites us to question how much of our reflection to art is about truth versus projection. When people call a movie “depressing”, a book “inspiring”, or a painting “boring”, they are often revealing their own values and personal style. For instance, Greta Gerwig’s Barbie Movie (2023), some viewers saw it as a feminist triumph while others dismissed it as superficial, even overly political. The film itself didn’t change, it was the audience and each of their different lenses that differed. I believe Wilde would argue that the movie Barbie mirrors diversity of the viewers themselves, their beliefs about gender, identity, and power.
I also connected with Wilde’s aphorism as a student of film and literature. As I read The Picture of Dorian Gray it was clear that readers’ moral reactions often say more about their own comfort with beauty, vanity, and desire in correlation to Wilde’s intentions. Wilde faced immense criticism for “immortality” but his preface in the book reminds us that morality lies in the viewer’s eye, not his own artwork. I find his way of thinking very fascinating and eye opening. I think the way he lets others perceive his work and takes criticism is influential and inspiring to me and others. It is important to not let individuals’ thoughts or opinions control you or sway you to refrain from your own personal feelings or inspirations. Wilde presents an important topic many of us partake in, we condemn or praise art not because of what it is, but rather what it provokes in us.
In conclusion, art is not the window into the artist’s soul or a mirror of true reality. Art is a mirror into our own. Wilde’s words remind us that when we experience beauty, desire, or discomfort we are really meeting ourselves. I think this is such a cool insight, figuring out yourself more through art. Although it can be uncomfortable to feel those feelings at times, that is the paradox of art.