[Rumori] validity

[Paul Smith]

> 
> "valid."  even though i hear it all the time i've
> always thought
> the word "valid" seems out of place when discussing
> cultural
> artifacts. what could it possibly mean in that
> context? What is
> valid is based on or borne out by truth or fact.
> it's soundly
> reasoned, or contains logically derived conclusions.
>  how can any
> of that apply to a piece of art? In fact one might
> go so far as
> to say all art is invalid.
> 

"Valid" is a critical term.  It is the art critics who
do the reasoned arguing, [or so they claim] and lay
down the truth in regards to any particular artwork. 
I do this when I evaluate fellow writers' works in
relation my own, their genre, social significance, the
works themselves, etc.  It might be easier to say
"good" or "bad", but since art is largely measured
against a specific criterion, "valid" is the word to
use.  

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