Blast O' Joy

What Is the 'Job' of Art?

A Latino writer whose name I can no longer recall said (paraphrasing here) 'It's the job of the artist to infect the public." This is a sentiment that I clipped out of the paper and carried in my wallet for years until it finally disintegrated.

I think I felt this was a truth to live by. Yes, we want to stir things up - get people excited and motivated - get them talking, and most of all doing. A LOT of art has done exactly that to great effect, from controversial Michael Moore films about politics to paintings by Thomas Eakins in which anatomy professors dissect the human body in class.

Yes, those who operate in such a highly charged realm can expect to take some hits. And to create so much buzz they naturally rise to the top of their field. This is the value of taking a stand - not just to stand out, but precisely because you stir people up, get them thinking … you 'infect' them.

This came to mind because of a recent article I read in The New York Times about an artist, Doug Auld, who paints people badly disfigured by fires. (The body of work is called State of Grace.) He found these subjects unexpected, the canvases of their faces beautiful in their grim reality - and the outlook of these fire survivors amazingly frank and empowering.

The article about Auld's work also noted that a number of people had accused Auld of exploiting his subjects. But I say he's opening up a conversation - using his art to question social mores and help us get to know people who we might ordinarily shun or shy away from. That's a powerful, direct conversation; not for everyone, but remarkable for those who embrace it.

What do you think? What is the job of art?

Technorati Tags: Artist mission, artists statement, job of art

Hustle and Flow

Recently, I had the chance to watch an incredible indie film, Hustle & Flow, about a drug dealing pimp in the backwaters of Memphis who lives his dream of becoming a successful rapper. I found a lot of inspiration here for dream pursuit - and you will, too.

Winner of the Sundance Festival Audience Award, and recent winner of the Oscar for Best Song, 'It's Hard Out Here for a Pimp', this film's already way on the map. You've got to order this thing from Netflix and see it, as I imagine it's long gone from the theaters.

Here's what I loved about Hustle & Flow: it conveys one of my key messages - that your creative self-expression is the fast road to healing. It can give you back your mojo in about one minute when you connect to that magical spirit - even when you're a down and out pimp having a mid life crisis. You can just feel that passion that pours through his soul.

Yes, there was violence. Yes, we're heroizing a guy who's made a lot of mistakes. BUT DJ, the star, totally redeems himself the minute he lets himself become vulnerable enough to write down some lyrics, share them and sing them. Even his hookers get in on the act, one managing him and the other singing back up. The ending is just as surprising and great as the movie itself.

Check it out!

What I Learned from ‘American Idol’

First of all, let’s just get this out on the table – my favorite ‘American Idol’ singers are Taylor Hicks (the gray-haired, blues-singing guy) and Paris Bennett, the very incredible 17-year-old African-American singer from Georgia.

Now … let’s analyze why I like them.

I’m a newbie to American Idol – it’s something my kids have gotten me into, but boy … a LOT can be learned here about the creative process and the art of passing muster. Not only are you dealing with Simon Cowell’s scowling countenance all the time … only those who are self-possessed, fairly real and really relaxed seem to make it into the final rounds.

These are the people who ‘have it going on’ – they know their job, they know they’re good, and they’re not waiting for the judges to validate them. Best of all, they’re having fun. And that all springs from passion for your craft.

I love these two singers because they’re genuinely passionate about what they do. When Taylor Hicks came in to see the judges to find out if he made it onto the show, he was playing his harmonica. Just for love of being there, and taking the long stroll down to their table, he played the blues all the way. This guy is full of joy whether he makes it to the final round or not … and he’s certainly not going to stop, regardless of whether he wins. Frankly, if I was an A&R person with a major label, I’d already be talking to this guy about signing. He’s just got that unique, amazing … something. (I love that he says on his page that he’ll go back to being a ‘broke performer’ after the AI whirl ends.)

Same for the fabulous Paris Bennett. This girl is just 100% about delivering her gift. Her ritual (according to the American Idol site) is to ‘Pray and ask God to be my words and let Him use me!’. How cool is that? Paris is connected to the music, down to the core of her soul, and it makes us love her.

I’m not forgetting what she did when she passed her original AI audition and got the ‘golden ticket’ to spend the week auditioning in Hollywood (essentially round 2 of the process.) She dropped to her knees in the doorway as she exited, and just began to sob with joy. She’s feeling it … and so can we.

If you haven’t ever checked American Idol out, do … it’s a great lesson in life as a working artist. Who’s your favorite contestant?

ICF Conference in San Jose

Recently, while at the ICF conference in San Jose, CA, I had a revelation. Hanging around in the company of some of my more successful Net marketing colleagues, I saw just how loose and relaxed you have to be in order to become a successful creative business person.

 

Sure, those other business types, the MBA’s, stock market jocks, and corporate biggies can plan and strategize all they want. When they set off to pursue a dream, they make marketing plans and business plans … and they stick to them. They’re amazingly mature and disciplined that way.

 

But those of us who are creative souls tend to work by a different set of rules. We bend and flow with our ideas. Impulses and ideas come charging in, riding the steed of inspiration, and we find ourselves changing projects mid-stream or doing fifteen things at once – all of them with sloppy gusto. And then there’s tax time, or inventory time, or marketing time, and we find ourselves scratching our heads in overwhelm.

 

For instance, one of my Net pals came to the conference with no particular agenda except maybe a little power networking. Well, he left with promises from four of the biggest operations in his field to do serious business with him. And why? Because he was totally in the flow of the moment, just seeing what he could create next … and next.

 

This is the difference between the creative businessperson and the regular businessperson. If you are an artist or creator of any kind you know what I’m talking about. The part of your brain ordinarily reserved for business may well have the attention span of a two-year old, often to your detriment. Yet, all is not lost. There are ways to actually be a businesslike creative person. and one of the keys is learning to relax about it.

 

I don’t mean relax, as in toss all of your important papers into a shoe box and forget about them. Yes, you do need to be responsible about business and handle the basics. I mean relax, as in make a loose creative business plan that allows for change as your concept opens up and develops. It helps to allow yourself to not know from time to time just what to do next. You want to create a plan that acts not as a strict set of guidelines, but one that ebbs and flows along the uncertain path of your dream, guiding you when necessary and retreating when unneeded.

 

That’s organic. And that’s creative … and authentic!

 

My New Sense of Mission

I’ve got to be honest. After How Much Joy Can You Stand went out of print, I was kind of stymied about how the joy work should move forward. My literary agent had lost interest in me. Living Your Joy wasn’t selling all that many copies. I was no longer getting much in the way of speaking invites. I was feeling like a Joy has-been. Except for you, fair readers. I really needed to stay connected to my Joy Letter readers, and something deep in my gut said ‘Keep on writing this Joy work’ and let it evolve as it will. So it has … and is! As I develop my marketing site, www.getknownnow.com and become more involved in helping coaches, healing professionals, authors and consultants reach more people, I’ve begun to see how this relates directly to my Joy work and you Joy folks. For you, I’m here to prod you forward (as ever) AND give you tools to make those dreams reality AND help YOU find your people. ‘Your people’ are those you are meant to work with. The folks your soul is meant to connect with. The recipients of your dream work. So my mission with both my Joy folks and my Get Known Now audiences has merged into a single, fairly focused path – to move you all forward on your path so you fulfill your mission in life more completely. I’ve evolved from just talking about joy, to moving people to live their dreams, to giving them day to day tools to live their joy – and now, to learning how to market that joy. That may mean I send you creativity tips and encouragement. Or move you to tighten up your brand and web site. Or teach you automatic marketing techniques. All of them are productive because You are one and the same audience – the coaches, healers and consultants I’m meant to touch. It’s all coming together in my mind … and I have been wondering, for a long time, what this connection seems to be. (Mind you, I’ve been guided all along the way, so I don’t question most of the time … just do.) But there it is. My ah-ha moment. Delivered to you courtesy of yet another great work session at Speeder & Earl’s, Burlington VT. Thanks for listening.