Comments on: Art, Interpretation and Humanity’s Evolution

By: Meg

Meg — Sun, 27 Jun 2010 13:57:37 +0000

Some say that the ability to ask these questions about yourself and the world around you is where art begins. It’s a level of consciousness. Children who are good at art are often the ones who feel most alienated from their peers, forced to be aware of physical or social inadequacies in that time and place in their lives. The feelings often persist when the times and places have changed, thus turning into a self-perpetuating alienation–but on the bright side, more art. Now, the form that art takes may or may not be appealing, or worthy of a museum installation, but that is a separate issue. Other factors come into play–understanding how the art market works, how a particular museum receives work for review, etc. The self-deprecating artist would have to raise his/her consciousness sufficiently to learn these factors and give them a go.

That is where society’s self-demonization plays more of a role–in a culture where rigid notions of beauty, art, and achievement are held, it is difficult to feel up to snuff. Nearly everyone feels inadequate on some level and at the same time keeps everyone else down there with him, whether an artist, an athlete, or a stockbroker. Culturally, though, I think we are evolving. When you look back on cultural & social history, there is much more freedom of expression now–and acceptance of that expression–in nearly whatever form it takes.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 24 Jun 2010 19:55:30 +0000

I remind myself daily of what is good about us, which by the way is pretty much everything. Once we take the labels of good and bad off of things we begin to understand the true beauty of what we call imperfection.
It is interesting how we demonize our selves. It is no surprise as many religions of the world claim that we are born of or with sin upon us and thus marking us as evil from the get go when in reality we are of source which is pure love. We are born of pure love.
Great post.

By: Christine LaRocque

Christine LaRocque — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 22:43:40 +0000

I agree with Kristen that these types of questions tend to go in cycles. Positivity breeds positivity and negativity, negativity. I would agree with you that sometimes it’s simply about the choice, but I don’t think that’s always the case. Life experience, those we choose to let influence us and our emotional state of being can sometimes create factors beyond our control that profoundly affect our perspective of life. And perspective is art, it’s a wondrous thing and highly individual. I’m not sure that everyone gets that. In fact, I know we don’t. It’s an interesting reflection on society, one that would be more rich if we could all recognize our individual realities.

By: Amber

Amber — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 03:07:08 +0000

Belinda, this is what I feel constantly. I know I do my fair share of complaining about other people, but I try to limit it to inside my head–and even then I try and cut it off before too long. I recognize that I am far, far from perfect so I do not expect perfection from other people. What I do expect is respect, something I would gladly reciprocate.

Wonderfully expressed and a great community building post.

By: Tess The Bold Life

Tess The Bold Life — Wed, 23 Jun 2010 02:16:08 +0000

Belinda,
I only have inner peace when I leave judgement behind. I think we need to accept and celebrate our flaws. We don’t owe anybody perfection. Not even our children. If everyone focused on pointing out the good and wonderful the imperfections would lose their power. Great post.

By: Katie

Katie — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 11:43:47 +0000

I don’t think we celebrate our strengths enough. We do during the Olympics. We do seem to celebrate through sport, remembering-type holidays, but in general, we don’t. We like bad news, we like to read about people messing up, and somehow when we are criticized we hold onto that more tightly than a million compliments. We’re a strange and fascinating bunch us humans. We like to be right, to see others do badly, but we also can admit when we’re wrong and celebrate each other. I like the idea of just for now, having a little lift and celebrating what I do well, art or not. Thanks Belinda. Thoughtful words as always.

By: Michele Mas Martin

Michele Mas Martin — Tue, 22 Jun 2010 01:00:11 +0000

As usual, your writing inspires me to think about “how i think” (and therefore how I act and react). It was so nice to meet you at PC’s gig on Saturday.
Michele

By: Patty - Why Not Start Now?

Patty - Why Not Start Now? — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 22:44:03 +0000

Hi Belinda – This is such a fascinating way to pose the question of strengths vs. imperfections, within the framework of art. Because the art world is so much about critique and examination. In fact, I once read that creatives are problem finders (as opposed to problem solvers), basically looking for what’s wrong almost all the time, finding the flaws in what is apparently flawless, without even knowing it. So I do wonder, is part of it just our nature, and perhaps some of us aren’t as good at strength finding? I don’t know, I go back and forth on this all the time. One thing I do know, though: I’m much better at supporting other people’s strengths than I am my own. And sometimes I just want to say, “OK, that’s me.”

By: Tony Single

Tony Single — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 22:39:50 +0000

Belinda, life IS a work of art. There is art in a person’s smile, art in the antics of a cat, art in the way a stone makes ripples in the water’s surface. Art is everywhere. It feels to me like an act of creation that the conditions are just so that we can even be here, clinging to a planet as it hurtles around the sun.

I think there is good and bad within us, but I agree that what does it help to always focus on the negatives? My personal flaws and weaknesses do not give me relief or reward whenever I obsess over them. It’s only when I let others see the good stuff in me, and maybe even see it for myself, that I get that much needed relief. Perhaps not even focusing on oneself for a time can be a form of relief too.

As a species, I guess it’s hard not to demonise our imperfections. After all, it could be argued that we in some ways have been the most wasteful, selfish and destructive animals on the planet. Our shared history would seem to bare that out. If we evolve into something better, it can only be through individuals… and enough individuals so that the numbers eventually stack up on one another to make an actual difference.

So, yeah, I agree. Enough with the demonising. That never helped anyone. But we also have a great responsibility to be transparent about our failings so that we’re not kidding ourselves about what we are. We ARE flawed, we CAN do better, but we need to do better by not pointing fingers at one another and ourselves… and stop judging for a change. I find a big hug works wonders whereas a clenched fist never will.

By: Colleen

Colleen — Mon, 21 Jun 2010 21:30:24 +0000

Hi Belinda,
you raise some very interesting points in this post. It really has me thinking. Perception is certainly a very multi faceted thing. I prefer to be the cup half full kind of person and when I struggle with one of my “weaknesses” I prefer to think of it as a learning experience. If you try to ignore these feelings of inadequacy you will not grow. I firmly believe that we a set on this earth with a blue print and we will find ourselves in situations where we can learn the lessons we need to learn and we shouldn’t feel quilty for being the person we were created to be.