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Art is created through the expression of one’s feelings. H.L. Mencken believes that an artist’s hostile feelings toward his environment are responsible for the production of the artist’s work. I heartily agree with Mencken; an artist is shaped and molded by his own disgust for his surroundings and by his surroundings’ equal disgust for him.

First, There are a few artists who are readily accepted. Andrew Lloyd Webber and his partner Tim Rice have been loved by their native land of England ever since Jesus Christ Superstar premiered. These two have nothing against their country; they love it, it loves them. However, for most artists, this is far from true. W.A. Mozart, now considered a musical genius, was criticized by his home land for his musical productions which contained “to many notes.” Nevertheless, out of contempt, he defied his country’s leaders and went on to write some of the most brilliant, note-infested works of all time. Also, I know from my own experience how another’s dislike can shape art. When I write a paper in English class, I must change my own writing style completely into something that is unnatural. This is a result of my teacher’s dislike for my personal style; formal English does not accept it, so my work must transform itself into something utterly different from my own. However, the teacher’s dislike for my style has shaped my artistic creativity.

Secondly, some of the best artwork is a mockery of the artist’s surroundings. Take, for example, the brilliant painting American Gothic. At first glance, the painting shows a picture of a typical Southwestern farm: a farmer, his wife, and their home. However, a closer inspection will reveal sinister details: The snake of the wife’s hair, the broken windows, the worried expressions, and the devil’s pitchfork. This painting obviously mocks the southwest farmer; they are never what they seem. They try to be innocent bystanders when they are, in fact, a catalyst to catastrophe. The painter of this work must have great contempt for farm life. A more obvious example of an artist’s contempt can be viewed in your local paper: political cartoons. These humorous images are filled with satire and sarcasm toward the government. A good political cartoon is the product of disgust for the government of one’s country. If these cartoons were mockery toward the government, they would not be funny; they would not be considered pieces of art. It is the artist’s personal way of relieving the feelings of contempt for his environment.

H.L. Mencken is correct; art is the fruit of hate. An artist who is not shaped by others’ dislike is a poor artist indeed.