Thursday, June 12, 2008

Unique

What is uniquely me? I guess you could ask this in relation to what is not unique about me. I would like to say that I am very unique, but sadly the opposite is more likely true. At least I can recognize that, for those that don't see it, well, they're not looking very hard. Can you be a good artist without sharing a lot of commonalities with your audience?

Let's take solace in that. Is it decent art if it doesn't force the audience to see some of themselves in it?

The corporate movement of the last 20 years has certainly pushed towards the middle- making most of us less unique.

Can't we say the same about our art? Wouldn't Art have to don that lemming suit and follow that piper off the cliff? Those same corporations do decide what movies get made, what books get published, and what songs get heard moving our art increasingly towards our growing middle. Is there an artistic benefit to being that unique tree in the woods when no one can hear you when you fall or even cares that you did?