I just watched this documentary, which was great and uplifting and inspiring and also heartbreaking:
Sure, I want to show it to my students to inspire them to go be creative, but when was the last time I made art? When was the last time I really created something?
And when was the moment when I decided scholarly articles were the same as creative work?
I watch this and feel like I should drop everything and go make something right now, but I would want it to be art, not pissing out some scrapbook hobby thing.
The director has a great interview statement in the extras of the dvd, first about how making art is so hard and so frightening that we can easily be consumed by self doubt and give up the difficult work of making art, and second that women especially often don't know who they are and what they really want, distracted by the constant rush of putting everyone else's needs first.
What are we collectively missing out on when we force a majority of the academy to frantically run in place in the effort to obtain a permanent job?
What are we collectively missing out on when we force a majority of the workforce in general to frantically run in place in the effort to survive on a low-wage, contingent job?
If we had a moment to really stop and think for a moment and catch our breaths, would we begin to figure out the answers?
If we had a moment to really stop and think for a moment and catch our breaths, would we at least begin to figure out the questions?
4 comments:
One value of tenure is that it does allow for some creativity and risk-taking, though it could be argued that it's a shame we need that kind of professional protection to get off the treadmill. And, as you point out, that's not a protection available to a large fraction of the workforce.
I can't think of anything insightful to say. But I will say thanks for posting this. The video itself and your post following it. Opens up a lot of conversations in my head.
I hope that a significant part of what we create is meaningful to us, and yet speaks to a larger audience. My art is something I have lost many times in the Tackett progress of my life experience, in the teChing, working in an office, keeping up with the house, the weeds, the reading... The work of my life all too often Has pushed aside my creative stuff. Like you, I'd like it to be Art, but too often that capital A has deterred me, intimidated me. And those are hours, days, weeks, years that are forever lost. With tenure and a measure of job security (if not financial) I have allowed myself to play, create, be. Don't be like me and let those hours drift into years before you allow yourself to experiment with your own talents and drives. Just go play.
I feel like this every time I watch the Oscars. Why am I not creating stories that are turned into film that are told?
Then I start thinking the same kinds of things...why do I spend so much time working on the opposite of creative stuff when the creative stuff is what fuels my fire?
Hugs.
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