paulteaganSat, Jan 12, 2008 I think you could argue that art is practical because I know of a lot of musicians who get a lot of tail. But I don't want to think of art as a practicality. It may very well be an evolved ability that in some respect aided our survival as a species, but that's not that important. Theorizing on the practicality won't get you any closer to artistic expression.
For what purpose we create is different for everyone, I assume. I, personally, start with an idea. It's magnificent and surreal and incredibly close to tangibility that I can't help but act on it. If I'm creating selflessly, then the idea is its own entity with its own needs. It is separate from my ego, however influenced. It grows legs and walks on its own after a while. It is becoming real and now I need to shape it to resemble as much of the original idea as possible. Sometimes this is difficult because the idea was a vague feeling without fleshed out details. It was a glowing bulbous blob, lighter than air in the center of my chest. Hardly tangible, though. Now it is finished and it is not what I wanted, but it is better because it is real. It stands on its own and does not depend on me for explanation. When it is perceived by others, it will be something different. They will see something that I never saw. It will be theirs. It supersedes me.
I think you could argue that art is practical because I know of a lot of musicians who get a lot of tail. But I don't want to think of art as a practicality. It may very well be an evolved ability that in some respect aided our survival as a species, but that's not that important. Theorizing on the practicality won't get you any closer to artistic expression.
For what purpose we create is different for everyone, I assume. I, personally, start with an idea. It's magnificent and surreal and incredibly close to tangibility that I can't help but act on it. If I'm creating selflessly, then the idea is its own entity with its own needs. It is separate from my ego, however influenced. It grows legs and walks on its own after a while. It is becoming real and now I need to shape it to resemble as much of the original idea as possible. Sometimes this is difficult because the idea was a vague feeling without fleshed out details. It was a glowing bulbous blob, lighter than air in the center of my chest. Hardly tangible, though. Now it is finished and it is not what I wanted, but it is better because it is real. It stands on its own and does not depend on me for explanation. When it is perceived by others, it will be something different. They will see something that I never saw. It will be theirs. It supersedes me.
What's it like for you?