Some thoughts on being an artist in entertainment culture

[rustywire]

Thanks for the insight and encouragement.

In rereading this thread, true to form I'm trying to stay focused on an obscured vision while meandering all over the place, which is fairly typical for me...

Maybe it could have better been titled as "I want to be an artist of substance in a superficial culture of fools and charlatans without coming off as a contempt-adled, pretentious douche" but I've been thinking lately (uh-oh, here we go again) it might be par for the course.

And just to clarify a previous statement, I don't necessarily consider biding time to mean sitting idle and doing nothing.
Surely it's possible to keep moving forward, even when the world appears to be carrying on without you, and moving in another direction.

Just gotta keep on, to the beat of one's own drum...

[smallsnd/bigsnd]

Maybe it could have better been titled as "I want to be an artist of substance in a superficial culture of fools and charlatans without coming off as a contempt-adled, pretentious douche" but I've been thinking lately (uh-oh, here we go again) it might be par for the course.

an important question to ask yourself is: who do you want to perceive you as an "artist of substance" - yourself or others? if the former, than you really only need to cater to yourself, don't worry about "publishing" any of your music/art and just create for creativity's-sake -this is nothing new; it's something that many, MANY artists already do. if the answer is the latter, than you need to create and put that work out into the world and let others decide whether or not you are an artist of substance and not a pretentious douche.

there are loads of people in this world who are shitty and lame, but there are also quite a few people who are incredibly talented, inspired and creative who aren't doing it for the fame and money, because let's face it... how often does that really happen anyways?

[backwardsvoyager]

I think that whatever you choose to do you should still share your music. There's a difference between making it available for others to listen if they so desire, and actively promoting it to gain popularity (creating chances for others to exploit your art).

The way I see it, if the music I'm most passionate about now had never been put out there, I'd probably lack the inspiration and motivation to create my own music in the first place

This is coming from a young, unemployed person so I'm not gonna comment on career/money aspects, but yeah, don't give up! Your art could end up meaning a lot to somebody in the future.

[D.o.S.]

Maybe it could have better been titled as "I want to be an artist of substance in a superficial culture of fools and charlatans without coming off as a contempt-adled, pretentious douche" but I've been thinking lately (uh-oh, here we go again) it might be par for the course.

an important question to ask yourself is: who do you want to perceive you as an "artist of substance" - yourself or others? if the former, than you really only need to cater to yourself, don't worry about "publishing" any of your music/art and just create for creativity's-sake -this is nothing new; it's something that many, MANY artists already do. if the answer is the latter, than you need to create and put that work out into the world and let others decide whether or not you are an artist of substance and not a pretentious douche.

there are loads of people in this world who are shitty and lame, but there are also quite a few people who are incredibly talented, inspired and creative who aren't doing it for the fame and money, because let's face it... how often does that really happen anyways?

[rustywire]

Maybe it could have better been titled as "I want to be an artist of substance in a superficial culture of fools and charlatans without coming off as a contempt-adled, pretentious douche" but I've been thinking lately (uh-oh, here we go again) it might be par for the course.

an important question to ask yourself is: who do you want to perceive you as an "artist of substance" - yourself or others? if the former, than you really only need to cater to yourself, don't worry about "publishing" any of your music/art and just create for creativity's-sake -this is nothing new; it's something that many, MANY artists already do. if the answer is the latter, than you need to create and put that work out into the world and let others decide whether or not you are an artist of substance and not a pretentious douche.

there are loads of people in this world who are shitty and lame, but there are also quite a few people who are incredibly talented, inspired and creative who aren't doing it for the fame and money, because let's face it... how often does that really happen anyways?

My answer to that (important) question is kind of a nonanswer: "whoever, nobody...both...it doesn't matter."
I know this thread has a weird way of showing it, but I really don't want the focus to be on myself.
I'd prefer the focus to be on "my ideas" or the issues/actions responsible for making me react to them in an emotional way; which leads to creation.
It's the proverbial lump in my chest (or maybe it's a void?) that motivates me to create something.

I want to please myself...sorta... but doing so results in comfort, which in turn causes me discomfort.
There's just a feeling of uneasiness, maybe even guilt that accompanies self-gratification...and then we've come full circle.
But I don't want to run in circles. Running only pisses me off anyway; I have flat feet....and while I'm a decent sprinter, life is more like a marathon.
Also great art takes time to unfold, cliche cliche...

Anyway...the collective experiences that make up my well of inspiration are mostly universal.
As such, I'd like to share them and please others. Or maybe piss them off.
I cant really paint the intent with such a broad brush, when I lack a single driving force other than a compulsion to have fun.

And then there are the times when I just say "fuck it all, I don't care" in moments of mock-nihilism.

One thing is for certain; expectations piss me off. Fuck expectations.

The real goal is I just want to sound good while having fun.................so I guess it is all about me, after all

[smallsnd/bigsnd]

perhaps you need to explore self-destructive creative methods ala andy goldsworthy? many of his works are done in nature, using only materials found in nature and will eventually degrade without leaving a trace. he documents the work and his photographs (for the most part) are the resulting "art". they are simply photographs (well done and beautiful in their own right) but they might not be as powerful if the associated process and concept wasn't attached. all that being said, i'm sure he does plenty of works simply for his own enjoyment without ever taking notes/photos/etc. kind of the best of both worlds.