Art That Matters

Author: siggy

I believe the art that matters is just a question of being as genuine as you can.  The decision whether your art matters is really not yours but the reader.  All you can do is be as honest as possible and if you were someone out there will relate to your piece.  I like the definition of art that Tolstoi gave:  ‘art is infection.’  There should be no doubt about what is being relayed in your written piece, whatever the feelings and it should be immediate.  I came across this quote in a wonderful book on writing by Brenda Ueland, “If You Want To Write.”  There is no doubt the world is full of pseudo-art.  Always be as honest as you can.  That is all you can do.  No one likes a phony.

Writing is primarily psychological.  First you have to have something to say.  You need to be driven to reach out to an invisible audience, to solve a problem.  You may even know your end point but may not know how you are going to get there or what you are going to expound in the body of your text.

I never overly concerned about grammar (sic! the “fine editor” decided to leave this one as written!).  I know I can or my fine editor, my lovely and talented wife, can go back easily and tell me this or that needs correcting.  To be driven by passion, conflict is far more important.  If the feelings expressed are genuine they will always come through no matter how badly written the piece is.  Expressing yourself honestly and openly is what the reader responds to–not facile-ness.  It can be well written and say nothing.

Having something to say consistently always means providing quiet time for yourself and being able to listen to what the tiny voice inside of you saying:  “this is truly what is important and I want to express that openly to someone.”  Proverbs in the Bible says:  “Be still and know I am God.”

I am not going to discuss the existence of God in this piece but there is no doubt that one must have periods of reflection to continue to write.  Otherwise that person’s ideas will peter out eventually.  One must let his/her mind roam.  And that process is always psychological.  And that process is always a precursor to writing.