You have like 20 things you should be doing right now. I do as well. We all do, it's the mark of the modern, a sort of hyper productivity mixed with a constant need for distraction when we're not working. It's the way that our society is structured, and the way thus that the machine molds and throws us through life. Constantly in motion, constantly in communication, never free from the ceaseless stream of tacky achievements and droll responsibilities that are supposed to define who we are.
In this era, a dull sort of human has come about. One that looks at talents and skills as gifts, inherent features of other people that they just didn't get. They marvel at talented individuals as some sort of lottery winner. "Oh, you have the talent? How precious, you're so lucky." What a bullshit attitude. The products of focus aren't given to you. They're earned through work.
All talents and skills are nurtured, practiced, and sacrificed for. You don't just get to be talented, maybe you have the seeds of an ability, but you dedicate fucking years to it. So it's not worth just a glance over and a thoughtless compliment when someone has spent five days on a canvas. Life isn't about merely being good at things, or making products. "Good job" doesn't cut it if you're trying to comment on someone's creation. When you meet artists and their art, you're seeing their lifestyle and their soul in their work, not excel spreadsheets equivalents. The conversation shouldn't be superlatives and typical compliments, but an attempt to communicate so that you may find and then share the feelings of the creator. But isn't that impossible? Doesn't only the artist know what the artist meant?? Yea, of course the artist is the only one to have a perfect understanding of it, but that's why you're talking to him. Ask him questions about the piece, or make comments about what you think about it and maybe you'll reveal something new he didn't see. Just fucking focus on it for a second and don't let it be a pretty blur that you nod at only to go back to your coffee chat.
What's aggravating about it is it feels like they want to ignore the profound in life, as if they don't want to put in the thought to appreciate the point of the artists, which is to provide expression in ways we can't with conversation. I understand that we're all busy, I understand that some think art is a luxury activity, but my only response is to say they're fucking brain dead. My personal theory about why they're so art illiterate is that they haven't taken the time to develop any skill in life that doesn't revolve around athletics or a job, things which are usually a part of every life, but sad when they're the only parts.
Obviously art is the product of luxury time, but another way to phrase that is free time. It's not like it's still the servant of kinds and queens, it's just a tyrant of your time if you want to develop competency. But that means that even the homeless can find solace in making and consuming art. My point is that art isn't supposed to be fruity or highclass, it's supposed to belong to all of us. If we take the time to listen and develop our senses, I guarantee we will be able enjoy the works of others, our own work, and the world more. Focus is only another form of meditation.
So this might have came off as a little to ranty, but that's because I've been around only nonintellectual people for the entirety of this summer. Don't take the tone too seriously, it's just me rebelling against my surroundings. I wrote this because I want to remind all of us to slow down sometimes from the lifestyle of constant production to focus on things we enjoy, maybe even some of our hobbies. Life is better slow. If you live it too fast you won't remember it.
Well said.
Thanks man :)