Monday, April 26, 2010

is it possible?

Is it possible to be artsy and not pretentious? Is it possible to be deep and not cliché? Is it possible to be self-aware and not become frozen by indecision? Is it possible to say something, anything, original?

I am afraid that it is not...

1 comment:

Charles the Cat said...

The way I see it, the answers to your questions are as follows. Yes, yes, yes, and no.

In so much as the term "artsy" refers to that particular type of person who cultivates an outward image of creativeness for the purpose of social perception, then it is practically the definition of pretentiousness. If, though, you are referring merely to people engaged in creative acts as part of their daily life, then I have met some some people who are "artsy" without pretension. They create simply because they are compelled to do it, as they are compelled to eat and sleep. It is an intrinsic part of their life and who they are. On this topic, J.S. Bach said, "All true music... ...should have no other end and aim than the glory of god and the recreation of the soul; where this is not kept in mind there is only and infernal clamor and ranting." I can say with absolute belief that my friend Isaac creates in this way.

Is it possible to say something original? I believe that art can either be true or an "infernal clamor and ranting." The clamor and ranting can never be original because it is simply nonsense. The true art springs up naturally from life, as pure expression of being. In my belief that the essential experience of human life has not changed since the birth or consciousness, then it makes little sense to call this true art original. Since as far back as human society goes people have been living and expressing their experience in art, and it has merely stated the same truths in different forms, just as the forms of human life change, while its essential nature remains constant. In the sense that you are expressing the truth of your life, in all its unique forms, then you will be deep, and not cliche, because you will have touched something totally unique, your life, to the eternal.

On the third question, I believe it is very difficult, but possible, to be self-aware and not frozen by indecision. You must live in what you believe with no regard for the perception of others. The cultivation of this state is the purpose of streaking.