Artistic Temperaments
May. 21st, 2009 09:03 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sparkfrostSo I'm watching the season premiere of So You Think You Can Dance and had a thought about artists and performers. I'm not sure if I can put this right, so bear with me while I try.
Ok, so people who grow up sensitive, excitable, etc etc, are often told that they have "artistic temperaments". Whether they're called drama queens or not, children and young teens who have difficulty with interpersonal relations or even classroom troubles are often encouraged to go into the arts- whether it be theater, singing, dance, painting, etc. They can express themselves in a medium that doesn't necessarily require a lot of interaction with others. Granted, actors have to be able to get along with other actors, dancers with their partners, and so on, but often times they can isolate themselves from people who have been cruel to them in the past, and separate themselves from a world that "just doesn't understand them". Which is all well and good if they can manage to keep up that separation, and just surround themselves with people like them.
The problem comes when they put themselves in situations where people *not* like them are able to look on and judge. For example, So You Think You Can Dance. Or American Idol, or any of the talent shows, really. These people grow up being told that they're artistic, and talented, and its ok to be so sensitive and over the top because that is what artists do. So they simply cannot compute when they're told that no, they are not as talented as they think they are, no, they will not be moving up to the next level, no, the judges are not in awe of what they have just done and may, in some cases, be laughing at them. They just can't understand it! So that's when you get these crazy overreactions that the producers cream themselves over. And even as I watch in horrified amusement I can't help but feel immense pity for these people who are having their worldview shattered. Sometimes it isn't even about not being talented enough. They may be excellent at whatever they do, but they just do not have the temperament to make it in an industry where they will be constantly criticized. The first negative comment and they're tearing up and hyperventilating. Which is just depressing, honestly.
I don't know. To me it is just sad that such sensitive people are told, because of their personality and temperament, that they should go into a profession where their talent will constantly be called into question. Damn all those depressed, suicidal artists for convincing us as a culture that they are the norm. The darker emotions obviously have their place in art, but it seems that people tend to pull solely from those and forget about the love and joy that makes art so fucking inspiring.
As Daniel Franco would say, follow your bliss. And as Margaret Atwood told us, don't let the bastards grind you down.
Ok, so people who grow up sensitive, excitable, etc etc, are often told that they have "artistic temperaments". Whether they're called drama queens or not, children and young teens who have difficulty with interpersonal relations or even classroom troubles are often encouraged to go into the arts- whether it be theater, singing, dance, painting, etc. They can express themselves in a medium that doesn't necessarily require a lot of interaction with others. Granted, actors have to be able to get along with other actors, dancers with their partners, and so on, but often times they can isolate themselves from people who have been cruel to them in the past, and separate themselves from a world that "just doesn't understand them". Which is all well and good if they can manage to keep up that separation, and just surround themselves with people like them.
The problem comes when they put themselves in situations where people *not* like them are able to look on and judge. For example, So You Think You Can Dance. Or American Idol, or any of the talent shows, really. These people grow up being told that they're artistic, and talented, and its ok to be so sensitive and over the top because that is what artists do. So they simply cannot compute when they're told that no, they are not as talented as they think they are, no, they will not be moving up to the next level, no, the judges are not in awe of what they have just done and may, in some cases, be laughing at them. They just can't understand it! So that's when you get these crazy overreactions that the producers cream themselves over. And even as I watch in horrified amusement I can't help but feel immense pity for these people who are having their worldview shattered. Sometimes it isn't even about not being talented enough. They may be excellent at whatever they do, but they just do not have the temperament to make it in an industry where they will be constantly criticized. The first negative comment and they're tearing up and hyperventilating. Which is just depressing, honestly.
I don't know. To me it is just sad that such sensitive people are told, because of their personality and temperament, that they should go into a profession where their talent will constantly be called into question. Damn all those depressed, suicidal artists for convincing us as a culture that they are the norm. The darker emotions obviously have their place in art, but it seems that people tend to pull solely from those and forget about the love and joy that makes art so fucking inspiring.
As Daniel Franco would say, follow your bliss. And as Margaret Atwood told us, don't let the bastards grind you down.
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no subject
Date: 2009-05-22 01:56 am (UTC)And also makes me never, ever want to go on a talent reality show. AIEEEEE.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-22 02:01 am (UTC)I don't know- I'd audition for American Idol. I don't know how far I'd make it, but if they held auditions in my area I'd go.
Then again, I'm tough as nails. :-P
no subject
Date: 2009-05-22 02:06 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-22 02:07 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-22 02:10 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-22 02:12 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2009-05-22 02:22 am (UTC)Granted, some of these people generally are not talented, and are likely coddled by either the culture-numb, or by overbearing, overprotective friends and family who stroke their egos enough to avoid any negative feelings. People need honesty, and sometimes the social contract needs to be broken, if only to fulfill a larger clause in said contract.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-22 02:28 am (UTC)But! I'm talking about the early rounds, and not just AI, but any talent show- you see people and its obvious that they just aren't that good, but it is equally obvious that they have never been told that. They might have a modicum of talent, but not near enough for them to compete on a show like AI, etc. But they keep being *told* that they are artistic, and therefore they *must* be good, and it shatters their worldview when they're told that they aren't.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-22 01:19 pm (UTC)I have to say that I was pretty lucky in that, even though I was shoved into art and theatre and voice lessons and writing classes, that I was never encouraged to think I was actually good at it.
Which is kind of a bad thing, 'cos now there's no way in hell I would ever try to pursue a career in either of my majors. I'm just not good enough.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-22 02:12 pm (UTC)That sucks about your majors. What were they? Is there any way that you can apply them without pursuing a career as an artist?
no subject
Date: 2009-05-22 02:23 pm (UTC)My official majors were:
1. English, Concentration: Creative Writing, Focus: Short Fiction
2. Theatre, Concentration: Technical Theatre, Focus: Research, Lighting
Honestly, there's a lot more room in corporate for creative people than I'd think. I'm kind of hell-bent on becoming a counselor now that I'm 33% of the way there through my current position.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-22 02:45 pm (UTC)As for room in corporate, hell yeah there is! Marketing, advertising, even just stuff within a company like fundraising and office events.
Oh god, can you picture us doing that? I'd be snarky and kind of mean while giving them a cookie a hug. It'd be awkward.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-22 03:17 pm (UTC)Marketing and advertising won't touch me with a pole... I pointed out a bunch of grammatical errors in a press release and immediately got black-listed. Whoops.
I'd whip out the counseling skills and make them pick a new career before I let them go home. It's really just mindfucking. I'm paid to mindfuck people.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-22 03:32 pm (UTC)Ahahaha, I approve of mindfucking. And snark! I love them both so much, it probably says something about me as a person.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-22 03:35 pm (UTC)It's great, because I've been taught how to make people say what's really on their minds. I can now smell bullshit before the bull even eats. I love it.
no subject
Date: 2009-05-22 04:11 pm (UTC)That is quite the talent! :)