A critic for "Al-Youm" newspaper: Digital noise confuses the interpretation of the art scene and deepens superficiality
Al-Otaibi explained that dealing with a work of art as an isolated text is no longer useful, stressing that art is produced today within an integrated industrial system in which commercial considerations clearly intertwine with creative dimensions.
Art critic Wael Saud Al-Otaibi
Key elements
Al-Otaibi pointed out that box office figures and viewership ratings have become essential elements in understanding the success or failure of a work, stressing that a critic's disregard for these realistic indicators inevitably leads to a flawed analysis.
He explained that the audience is no longer simply the ultimate and absolute judge, but has become a phenomenon requiring careful analysis, noting that understanding viewers' tastes reveals many social and cultural shifts.
superficial standards
The art critic cautioned against the arbitrary conflation of popular success with artistic merit, explaining that some works succeed due to their simplicity and accessibility, which can entrench superficial standards that harm the industry's long-term development.
In his assessment of Saudi artworks, he addressed the lack of "boldness in concept," clarifying that many productions prioritize formal boldness, content with visual spectacle without stimulating thought or intellectually challenging the viewer.
Entertainment content
Al-Otaibi revealed that social media platforms have created a state of "critical noise" that has made the task of evaluation more complex, calling for the development of entertainment content and its liberation from the cycle of perpetual superficiality in order to make it more impactful and lasting.
He emphasized that the greatest challenge lies in maintaining deep analytical criticism and avoiding hasty impressions, considering that the absence of this interpretive approach keeps the art scene in a state of fleeting admiration without any real development.
