Did You See the New iPad Ad?

If you haven’t, here it is.

What do you see? What do you feel?

At first, I didn’t see it the way the critics do. I think it hit me exactly the way Apple intended it to. To me, it looks like all of these creative tools are contained within the new iPad. Get the new iPad, and you, as a creator, have everything you need inside this handy little gadget. 

But that’s not how everyone saw it. 

This advertisement is the perfect illustration of the nature of the arts. The creator has intention. He is trying to say something. It comes forth from his worldview. He hopes you get it. 

But also, there is a consumer in this contract. The consumer receives it and applies their own worldview. Sometimes, it lands differently. Personal history, experience, geography, education, circle of people, and beliefs all attend to this worldview. 

Both sides are relevant. Both sides are valid.