If you cannot learn to love real art, at least learn to hate sham

Opening Scene

The early morning light pours softly through the window, casting a gentle glow across the room. Outside, the world seems peaceful, the quiet hum of the city just beginning to stir as the sun rises higher. Inside, the room is filled with a mixture of books, paintings, and old photographs — evidence of a life lived in pursuit of beauty and meaning. Jack stands near the window, his hands in his pockets, gazing out at the street below. Jeeny sits at the table, a sketchbook open in front of her, her eyes focused, but her mind elsewhere. The silence between them is comfortable, but it feels like a conversation is waiting to be had.

Host: The air is thick with the anticipation of something unspoken, a question that has been lingering in the space between them. Finally, Jeeny sets down her pencil and looks up, her voice breaking the stillness with a quiet but determined tone.

Jeeny: “Do you ever think about the value of art? Not just the big, famous pieces or the ones that cost a fortune, but what makes art real? What makes it meaningful?”

Jack: “I think about it all the time. But it’s tough, you know? What counts as real art? Is it something that resonates with you, or is it about something deeper, more complex?”

Jeeny: “I don’t think there’s one answer. But I do think it’s about authenticity. There’s a quote from William Morris that says, ‘If you cannot learn to love real art, at least learn to hate sham art and reject it.’ It makes me wonder — how much of what we call ‘art’ today is really just... superficial?”

Jack: “Sham art? That’s a pretty strong term. But I get what he means. It’s about the difference between something that’s truly expressive, something that speaks to the soul, and something that’s just meant to look pretty or sell.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. It’s not just about how it looks, but how it feels. True art has depth. It has something to say, even if it’s uncomfortable or messy. Sham art, on the other hand, just appeals to the surface. It’s not about depth, it’s about the image.”

Host: The room feels quieter now, the conversation holding weight as Jack shifts in his chair, his gaze still fixed on the street below, as though searching for something more in the idea of art itself. Jeeny watches him, her expression a mixture of curiosity and reflection.

Jack: “But can we really reject all the art that’s just meant to look good? What if it speaks to someone, even if it doesn’t have the depth we’re used to? Can’t something still be art, even if it’s not real art?”

Jeeny: “I don’t think we have to reject it completely. But Morris isn’t talking about shutting out the art that’s easy or accessible. He’s talking about not letting it replace the real, the authentic. There’s a difference between something that’s just made to look nice and something that challenges you, that pushes you to think deeper.”

Jack: “So, it’s about keeping the integrity of art, right? Not just accepting whatever’s popular or trendy, but striving for something that has substance?”

Jeeny: “Exactly. It’s about finding art that speaks to you on a deeper level, that doesn’t just flatter your senses but elevates you. And if you can’t do that, then at least reject the stuff that’s just noise. Don’t let it drown out the real.”

Host: The silence between them thickens as the weight of the conversation settles in. Jack exhales slowly, the realization beginning to take shape in his mind. He turns away from the window, his eyes meeting Jeeny’s, his thoughts clearer now, as though the conversation has unlocked something new.

Jack: “I think I see what you’re saying. Art isn’t just about beauty. It’s about truth. About the message behind it. If something isn’t saying anything meaningful, then maybe it’s not worth our time. Even if it’s nice to look at.”

Jeeny: “Yes. Art should challenge us. It should make us think, feel, question. The best art isn’t about easy answers, it’s about the questions it raises. It’s the ones that push you to see the world differently.”

Jack: “And the rest, the shallow stuff, we should just stop pretending it’s more than it is.”

Jeeny: “Exactly. It’s not about hating what other people enjoy. It’s about making space for the things that truly matter, for the art that actually has something to say.”

Host: The room feels quieter now, the air between them settling into a new understanding. The city outside continues to pulse with life, but inside, the conversation has brought a sense of clarity — a reminder that real art is about more than just aesthetics. It’s about the truth, the message, the challenge it offers, and the way it makes us see the world anew.

Jack: “I think it’s about honoring the art that speaks from the heart. That makes you feel something real, something deep.”

Jeeny: “Yes. And rejecting the things that don’t do that, even if they’re pretty. Sham art can never replace the true power of authentic expression.”

Host: As the conversation comes to a close, the room seems filled with a deeper understanding of what it means to truly engage with art. Outside, the world continues, but inside, there is a quiet peace, a recognition that art — in its purest form — is about more than what we see. It’s about what it makes us feel, what it makes us question, and how it opens our eyes to the truth beneath the surface.