Critique

Lecture to Art Students by Oscar Wilde

Oscar Wilde (1854-1900) was an Irish poet, playwright, novelist and a critic best known for his novel ‘The Picture of Dorian Gray’ and the play ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’. Wilde received his early education in Portora Royal School and then went on to attend Trinity College, Dublin (1871) and Magdalen College, Oxford (1874). During his time at Oxford, Wilde began to develop an interest in aestheticism and gained prominence for his involvement in the aesthetic art movement. After graduating from Oxford, Wilde embarked on an American lecture tour and upon returning to England, he continued giving lectures (Biography.com). One of these lectures was the Lecture to Art Students delivered on June 30, 1883 in Westminster, England to the art students of the Royal Academy. In it, he uses his trademark wit and opinionated mind to discuss his assessment of “what makes an artist and what does the artist make; what are the relations of the artist to his surroundings, what is the education the artist should get, and what is the quality of a good work of art” (201). Although, the ideas that Wilde put forth in his lecture were quite content and agreeable, the examples and reasoning used to support them were faulty, highly opinionated and phrased in a rather confusing manner.

Wilde begins his lecture, to an audience of art students, by doing away with the misconception that beauty can be defined in mere words. He states that it is the job of the artist to create it altogether rather than seeking to produce it with the help of an outline. Wilde then goes on to discuss the impact that the surroundings of an artist have on him and whether or not they have a role in creating an able artist. He also discusses how the quality of a good work of art distinguishes the able artist from the mediocre one.

While delivering a lecture, it is crucial to retain the attention of the audience at all times. The purpose of the lecture should be made clear...