Wally wrote:
By 'generally speaking', I wasn't referring to art critics, or people who
profess some expertise in the subject.

Oh. I thought you meant 'people who "know" a lot about art but can't
paint a lick themselves'


The fact that there's 'a lot to know' is irrelevant - it either moves you or
it doesn't.

Agreed.


It is quite possible, given some education on the technical aspects,
to look at a painting and say, "That's a good painting but I just
don't like it." Same for music.


That's not appreciation of art, that's appreciation of skill. A musician
doing a good job of playing a crap tune doesn't turn it into a good tune.

True, but a great musician can play a tune you've never liked before,
and show you that it has an appeal you didn't notice before.

DSK