on jealous guarding against non-majors

[frecklegirl]

Now, look. I don't sit on my throne as the arbiter of all that is writing and English and act as if you're not worthy to be writing poetry or fiction, simply because you haven't studied it. So why do artist friends look at me with surprise when I know about art--enjoy going to art museums and know the artists there well--or even engage in it, though very rarely, myself? And after the surprise comes, instead of any warm acceptance of a kindred spirit, a polite (even bemused) toleration of a mere amateur. Simply because I haven't been trained in it at the collegiate level (unless you count one art history course in France) doesn't disqualify me from doing things like taking (good!) pictures or even drawing occasionally. It doesn't mean that I can't do it, or do it well, or even do it better than you (though I'm not saying I do). I understand why you have to jealously guard it, but since I'm not trying--at all--to withhold the verbal domain, or anything else really, from you (even if I'd like to!) it just seems fairly presumptuous; offensive, even. I could have easily studied art (photography) if I'd wanted to, just as you could have (and almost should be to justify your appropriation) studied literature; just because I wasn't able to doesn't mean I turned my back on it forever.

I'm just saying that I find this denial a little ridiculous. That's all.