Diversity of opinion about a work of art shows that the work is new, complex, and vital.
Diverse opinions on art are extremely important. Oscar Wilde notes that the ideas of the art are intriguing and complex. He is implying that if people disagree on what a piece of art means or if it is subjectively good, then it is bringing a new perspective in the world. This point can be seen through different pieces of media that are more appreciated now compared to when they were created.
I would relate the significance of this aphorism to Kubrick’s 1968 film 2001: A Space Odyssey. This film was critically divisive when it first came out. Many critics and audiences thought it was dull and boring. This is a sentiment I also shared after my first viewing of the film. The movie features very little dialogue and action. Which made some people at the time uninterested. However, after a second viewing I realized how complex and the way the movie was portraying its themes. It grew a following during its release with younger audiences at the time who saw it as revolutionary. This diversity of opinion could be some of what Wilde is referring to. This reflects how at the time the film was maybe too complex for audiences at the time. Also the genre of Science fiction was not as common at the time. 2001 is now considered the first modern science fiction movie and opened up a genre for later more popular Sci-Fi movies.
Wilde’s aphorism could also be referring to different opinions on the meaning of art. Using the same example as before many have different reasoning for why they like 2001: A Space Odyssey. Some people just think of it as a visually epic film and put little thought into the meaning of the film. They think that it is art that should just be appreciated for its visual effects, and the artistry behind it. Others like to find meaning in the film. People state that the long shots of boarding ships in space makes the actual star ship a character. They also look at the film and see a warning about technology. It shows how in an increasingly technological world we should be careful about how far we go. This film also ushered many films which had a similar theme (Ex Machina, Terminator, Matrix, Wall-E, Ect).
Diversity of opinion is essential in every art. It allows people to open up dialects about real world issues relating to art. I agree that the most complex, and thought provoking pieces of art will always be debated about. I believe it is important for art to be enjoyed in different ways. At the end of the day art is subjective, and people will always have different opinions on everything. But the most important art has always been somewhat controversial during its release and even years after. I think when art is still debated about years after its creation it is a true masterpiece.