Why do people tend to sneer and roll their eyes when they say the words “multimedia artist”? It’s just something I’ve noticed lately.

For example: A few weeks ago when we were out and about, Lin was having a conversation with someone, and I guess either he or a mutual friend had told this person I was a “painter” … so when I walked up and joined the conversation, this person asked me what I painted and what medium I worked in. I said “Well, actually, I don’t just paint. It would be a shorter list to tell you what mediums I don’t work in. I don’t do scrapbooking. Everything else goes.” The person responded “Oooooh. You’re a multimedia artist [eyes roll - sneer].”

It’s just odd, and I can’t fathom why people a) insist on labeling an artist who doesn’t just paint (or sculpt or whatever) a multimedia artist, when the word “artist” would seem to cover any person making art and b) roll their eyes and sneer about multimedia artists. It’s annoying.

If anyone has an explanation on why artists working in more than one medium should be looked down upon, I would really love to hear it.