There are no 'Great Artists'

It is dangerous to teach artists the history of their art. It can if not carefully controlled lead them to see all art as the product of Great Men, Great Artists who singlehandedly remade the world. This is a false impression due the undue fame and prominence of a few but, since we as human take easily to a human interest story it is a easy fallacy to believe. Even for those who profess not to believe it the attitude it inspires is hard to resist. So much so that those who aspire to create seek to become 'Great Artists' rather than to produce great art.

This is dangerous not only because it is an ambition that has no clear focus - how much of what quality makes one great? - but because it causes undue attention to personal reputation rather than personal achievement.

A 'Great Artist' is only like to produce great art because he has mastered his profession not due to any intrinsic property that he possesses. This focus on the personality of the artist only detracts from an appreciation of art and confuses its production. Forget the playwright. The play's the thing.