Devil's Advocacy: half empty central
Happiness + Stability = Bad Art
Tue, January 23, 2007 - 12:09 AM
Universal happiness keeps the wheels of Mass Production turning; truth & beauty can't.
But actual happiness looks pretty squalid in comparison with over-compensations for misery. And being contented has none of the glamour of a good fight against misfortune... Happiness is never grand.
~Aldous Huxley
What great artist, what great musician, after becoming comfortable and secure and happy, did not start sucking in direct proportion? (exhibit A: Peter Gabriel)
The artists that remain great are finally consumed in the fire of their torment.
Tue, January 23, 2007 - 12:09 AM -
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Tue, January 23, 2007 - 10:54 AM
I would posit that it need not be torment that drives Art. That which is pain for one may be *intensity* for another. It is possible to be happy, and yet impelled to create by an inner intensity of spirit. Perhaps the point is not to become content and complacent, but to allow the urgency, the dynamic stress of birth to occur, and welcome it.
It's the stability thing that does the good stuff in. When one can find balance in being off balance - hey! There's something going on! |
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Tue, January 23, 2007 - 12:28 PM
Well, there have been some great albums borne out of pain and misery...
Eels - Electro-Shock Blues Elvis Costello - Blood and Chocolate Bob Dylan - Blood on the Tracks Beck - Sea Change I can only think of one great album that was made when I knew that artist was happy... Lyle Lovett - I Love Everybody. Great album and he was in a very happy relationship at the time (albeit with Julia Roberts). |
