So today was a good day. I kicked some ass at school, academically. The whole ambiance of the day just seemed very relaxed, despite next week being the last week of classes.
I also registered for the next semester today. Fun times baby. I'm headed for a concentration in Women's Studies and another associates degree, this one an A.A. in Humanities.
I've been really ambivalent about this second degree. It bugs me that I'm not an art major and that I'm not directly and actively working on my B.F.A. right now. Like, bugs me to the point that when I sat in on one of my old professor's class's crit a couple weeks ago while I waited to ask her if I could borrow a book, I almost cried for the beauty of it. She was irritated because only 3 students out of 16 had work to put up for critique, but I was dazzled. I just miss it so much. It doesn't feel right, not taking art classes.
But I'm trying to make the best of this. I'm trying to take classes that will inspire me and help me expand my understanding of art (hence the two philosophy classes this semester). I figure the more I know, the more I can create. In a lot of ways, an artist's mind is like a well. You're constantly drawing from the well to create your work. If the well goes dry, you're pretty much fucked. I don't ever want my well to dry up.
I've got to wonder though, how much this stuff is adding to my well. I wonder if instead of adding more water, it's really just pouring oil down my well. If I'm now going to be drawing up other people's thoughts and ideas and interpretations that have floated up to the surface, trapping and spoiling my own underneath it.
Ok, maybe I've carried this metaphor a little too far. But seriously, I don't want to spend the rest of my life regurgitating other people. And I understand that nothing's original, but still...
Hmmm...this requires more self-reflection I think.
You need to find what inspires you, and keep looking for examples of that. I like quiet, tragic mysteries, so this story got me all pondery: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/01/us/01ruess.html?_r=1&hp
ReplyDeleteEpic works of genius and perfection that also make me laugh inspire me as well: http://www.bagofnothing.com/2009/04/jarrad-farbs-quit-his-job-by-creating-a-playable-super-mario-bros-resignation-letter/
So while I love that you're studying philosophy, it's important that it's inspirational as well. If you're learning about all the grumpyfaces through history, that's gonna be no fun. Also make sure you're letting yourself learn in a way that works for you - I'm pretty cool reading the text with a copy of the cliff's notes next to it, and reflecting on it, one chapter at a time. Srs discussion might be what does it for ya though, so let yourself learn the way you need to. You're paying for this edumucation, and this well-filling, after all. ;)