Franz Kafka focuses on how important it is for an artist to obtain public appeal and the levels that he is willing to go to acquire the attention. The hunger artist is a vivid representation of the troubled relationship that other artists have with a society that does not understand them well. In the end, the hunger artist separates himself from the entire world mirroring a separation between public will and the artistic ego. Only, an artist comprehends the essence of his accomplishments and ambitions. The public just comes in for the excitement or prospects of a good show. This essay examines the extent that an artist is willing to acquire public attention or to draw public will.
An artist often has a complicated relationship with his intended audience. He constantly desires validation. For instance, the hunger artist believes that the suffering and fasting is a form of high art and not just entertainment. Hence, he is determined to prove to the public that he is not cheating. Unfortunately, no one understands his artistic ways. Eventually, the audience even loses interest. The misunderstanding exerts more suffering on the artist as he penetrates a vicious cycle of validation, and the public continues to show minimal comprehension (Kafka, 4).
Although the pride of the hunger artist enhances his ability to fast, it also prevents him from attaining his goals because it completely interferes with his connection with others and public appeal. In a similar way, being an artist applies a lot of pressure and suffering to an individual as he or she strives to be understood by the society. Not everyone has the capability to appreciate artistic perfection. The constant need for recognition and spiritual satisfaction leads the hunger artist to his death (Kafka, 5). He is immediately replaced by a panther that does not desire public attention, but all the same, captures people’s interests.
Work Cited
Kafka, Frank. A Hunger Artist, n.d.
