Disputes Over Doodles
By James Spica

There is a point in every artist’s life (or afterlife, as the case may be) where publishers and fans alike begin to take interest in the artist’s scrawlings; their doodles. These may be words, drawings, miffed film shorts, the list goes on. The artist must be great and renowned for this to happen—but once it does, debates as to intention and correctness of publication of scratchwork begin to arise. It is Robert Frost’s turn.
In “Editing Of Frost Notebooks In Dispute” by Motoko Rich (New York Times, January 22nd 2008), the author recounts the arguments between poetry critics and Frost scholars as to the correctness of Robert Faggen’s new publication of some of Frost’s work. There are two questions up in the air: is the translation (from scrawl to type) correct, and is it even right to publish it?
The inside thoughts and musings of an artist are interesting and exciting, as with the nature of art being at times quite arbitrary we wish to have a bit of insight into the minds of such vibrant people. Part of the intrigue is whether or not these were meant to be published—one may never know! But one must not mistake all of an artist’s doodles and scrap-work for art—it may only be the musings of a genius, which can be far more interesting.