The artists, like singers, musicians, poets, painters etc., are the ones I have hated all through my life. Reason? In all kind of gatherings, these artists hog the full limelight and, if you are not an artist, you are destined to be ignored. If an artist is attending a meeting, in the course of the meeting, some foolish flatterer will definitely discover the creative side of the artist and then the meeting’s agenda will take a back seat. All that will be discussed is the artist’s artistic ability and creative knowledge. Obviously, I don’t care about the meeting’s agenda, but, I hate being left out.
In my college days, I hated the artistic folks because they were the invincible competitors when it came to number-of-girls-around-you. “Artists are weirdly cool”. Grrrr…. While scrambling for attention, I too tried becoming an artist. From cramming “shayaris” to trying to learn various music instruments, I have tried it all. But, in vain. Somehow, I always lost the interest in any hobby before I could have learnt anything about it. May be, the artistic character is in genes. God knows!
After passing out of the college, this hatred didn’t die and, believe me, it’s not because of my attitude. People have kept me frustrated. My boss once said, “You should have a life after office. Pursuing an art would help you in your professional life”. Two of my team members felt proud and I felt like chopping my boss’s head while riding on his chest. Last year, I had planned to do MBA, but when I opened the application form, it was not for me, it was only for the people with the artistic abilities. The MBA institute needs to know your creative abilities (for some s**t reason) and along with it they need proofs like certificates and trophies.
Now what is this creativity that I am deprived of? I am not a dull or dry kinda person. But, the traits, which I possess, can’t be called creative. I cannot act in a drama but I can surely spoof it. I am a very good gossiper as well. I can’t sing or play an instrument on the stage but I can hoot with the audience for hours. I can’t dance on the floor but I can do bone-breaking “bhangra” in a baaraat (a marriage procession). I cannot paint but I can come up with a totally different perception of a painting (However, I may get comments like “disgusting” for that perception). I definitely cannot be called creative for all this but I at least deserve to be called “creatively destructive”. Do I stand a chance here?
You can argue that there is no point in recognizing creative destruction because there are many people who can be creatively destructive. But, I would say that there are many people who can sing but not everybody is a singer. There is a need to change our mindset, which does not allow us to appreciate creative destruction. And, there is a need of “creatively” designed competitions which recognize the creatively destructive talent.
Until this change happens, I will keep on hating the artistic talent and will do stupid things to hog the limelight.
In my college days, I hated the artistic folks because they were the invincible competitors when it came to number-of-girls-around-you. “Artists are weirdly cool”. Grrrr…. While scrambling for attention, I too tried becoming an artist. From cramming “shayaris” to trying to learn various music instruments, I have tried it all. But, in vain. Somehow, I always lost the interest in any hobby before I could have learnt anything about it. May be, the artistic character is in genes. God knows!
After passing out of the college, this hatred didn’t die and, believe me, it’s not because of my attitude. People have kept me frustrated. My boss once said, “You should have a life after office. Pursuing an art would help you in your professional life”. Two of my team members felt proud and I felt like chopping my boss’s head while riding on his chest. Last year, I had planned to do MBA, but when I opened the application form, it was not for me, it was only for the people with the artistic abilities. The MBA institute needs to know your creative abilities (for some s**t reason) and along with it they need proofs like certificates and trophies.
Now what is this creativity that I am deprived of? I am not a dull or dry kinda person. But, the traits, which I possess, can’t be called creative. I cannot act in a drama but I can surely spoof it. I am a very good gossiper as well. I can’t sing or play an instrument on the stage but I can hoot with the audience for hours. I can’t dance on the floor but I can do bone-breaking “bhangra” in a baaraat (a marriage procession). I cannot paint but I can come up with a totally different perception of a painting (However, I may get comments like “disgusting” for that perception). I definitely cannot be called creative for all this but I at least deserve to be called “creatively destructive”. Do I stand a chance here?
You can argue that there is no point in recognizing creative destruction because there are many people who can be creatively destructive. But, I would say that there are many people who can sing but not everybody is a singer. There is a need to change our mindset, which does not allow us to appreciate creative destruction. And, there is a need of “creatively” designed competitions which recognize the creatively destructive talent.
Until this change happens, I will keep on hating the artistic talent and will do stupid things to hog the limelight.
1 comment:
Hi Hemant,
I understand your anguish.
I understand you even though I belong to the other side of the fence.
Unknown to the world, I am a closet artist. A self-appointed writer and perhaps a poet.
Even though I can label myself as an artist, I share exactly the same frustrations and anguish that you suffer as the art that I practice is not 'entertaining'.
In college the popular people are not artists, but artists who can entertain people. Like singers or guitarists. So no luck with girls there.
I have no awards to prove my talent and skills, only a few publications in low-circulation journals, so no luck with with the MBA form either...
I liked your idea of creative destruction. I would strongly suggest that you critic art. A good critic is almost, yes almost as valued in art circles as an average artist.
And once you are valued in art circles, rest of the world will follow.
That and also, I share your pain.
Hate not the artists
But those judges, the fascists,
For artists too are in pain,
in the very same vein,
Judgments of dislike,
Hurt all alike.
(C) Copyright Neel Bhatt 2008.
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