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Essay 1
A Matter of Perspective
Scenario: You fall into a deep narrow hole in the ground. You don’t have your cell phone, no tools, nothing other than your bare hands and the clothes on your back. So one would imagine that you have three options:
First, you could despair, collapse into the fetal position, cry and wallow in a state of depression that your luck has run out. Second, you could calmly sit on the ground at the bottom of the hole, smile and say to yourself, “I’m not worried. I’m a positive thinker, and I’m going to send my positive vibes into the universe. Then it will only be a matter of time before I’m rescued.” Or third, you could get creative and find a way to climb out. Through sweat, smart thinking, and effort you may survive. Employing the former two options are futile and will only leave you dehydrated and starving, and likely dead.
My point? Positive thinking is a wayward fad that has left those who believe in it oblivious to reality. There are greater problems, on small and larger scales, that cannot be cured by sheer optimism. Somewhere along the road we forgot about being proactive, about getting to the root of the issues that plague us and making a conscious effort to better ourselves and our world. My frustration is largely with the concept that anything other than positive thinking is considered to be negative. There is an entire spectrum of thinking to be considered in any given situation. It is not impossible to be conscious of both positive and negative outcomes, and weigh those appropriately. Nor is it a crime to be realistic, and to be reminded of the things that affect us as humans and as a society.
Education is the key. When we are educated in school, we are given a survey of all things to be considered, historically and presently. We are educated to remember that there is a pattern to human behavior and its effect on the world. Some subjects don’t even require one to factor emotion, such as mathematics. There is something pure about an equation’s logical simplicity, or factual statistics or a scientific hypothesis. But again, we are being given evidence to be considered, evidence based on the reality that we live in. There is no positive or negative, except when it comes to numbers. And numbers never lie.
Take for example an old argument about musical appreciation. There is an overwhelming stigma concerning the effects of heavy metal or “dark” music on those who listen to it often. Decades ago, even rock ‘n roll was considered the devil’s music, something that will plague and twist the minds of a younger generation and drive them to partake in unsavory behavior. Or more recently, that such tunes would influence a young mind to be angrier, more depressed, and become a danger to himself or others. Here’s the reality: Statistically most of those who enjoy and relish in heavy metal music are not any angrier than those who prefer other genres of music, despite the expectations to be otherwise. I would also imagine that if we launched a study today on those who prefer “happy” or “pop” music on people, we would find an incongruous number of listeners who actually are happy people. So perhaps the bottom line is: we are who we are. What we expose ourselves to doesn’t affect us as much as you think. It merely reflects the ways in which we process our feelings. People with certain personality types will be drawn to the things that are cathartic to their position in life and the way they perceive the world around them. For example, a college student with a complicated family life, having already a personality that alludes to anxiety and depression, would logically be drawn to a darker genre of music to which he/she may relate best at that time. And as people evolve, so does their taste for said music, art, or literature. Musical and artistic taste is a measure of personality, and its influence is greatly misunderstood.
Such considerations lead me to the art world. There are a growing number of “dark” artists in this country, and throughout the world, who are developing bodies of work that reflect a depth of conceptual prowess and talent. And yet we are blacklisted. Just as Marilyn Manson was after the Columbine shootings, this is all a result of misunderstanding and politics. The art world is not exempt from political influence, within and without. There is enough competition and slander to go around; to make it difficult for anyone with any new idea. It’s no less cutthroat than Washington. With the propensity toward “positive thinking” making its way throughout American culture, it leaves artists torn and less confident in their given styles. Some follow the trend, creating objects and works that reflect the current tastes of our audience, given to light colors and subjects that make them envision a happier, carefree world. (Or art that doesn’t make them think at all; yet it matches the décor just perfectly.) This kind of art is always essential in society, for the sake of economics. As long as there is a demand, there must be a supply. It’s only natural. Furthermore, the freedom of choice requires a variety of options in order to be fully appreciated. The contrast between art that is decorative or light in nature and art that is edgy and unconventional is what keeps interest in the arts piqued.
There is also an argument to be made over how best to define art as “negative” or “positive,” “dark” or “light.” This is something that I’ve concluded to be essentially impossible. A generalized classification of a work of art should not reflect its nature but rather its technique and style. Trying to decide where art lies on the spectrum of light or dark is only possible through the perspective of the individual who perceives it. One person may see a theme in a work of art that evokes thoughts that are hopeful and optimistic, whereas someone else may see in it something less pleasant or grotesque. It is all a matter of taste and personality, as with the musical or literary genres. Where one may enjoy a Plath poem, another rereads Harry Potter. No one is wrong for believing in what they enjoy. It is all a matter of perspective.
The point where I take the gag off is when I find subjects in the art world who believe that there is only room for one type of art—that art is something to be enjoyed for its aesthetics only, to create exposure to greener pastures and an ideal world. But so long as this is not an ideal world that we live in (and my friends, it certainly is not), art deserves the right to reflect what is real. Art is truth, was once said. Though there are many truths, and truth is itself an invention of the mind that believes it, it still allows for so many versions of it. And that includes, and is not limited to, the darker nature of humanity. Art that reflects the monsters that reside within us should never be shunned or banned. So long as it was done with genuine intent and skill, art does not belong in the closet EVER. Every artist is aware of this, but doesn’t always defend it. And art that is created in this light (or lack thereof, some may say), deserves to be shared with its audience. Because just as all artists are not created equal, our art patrons aren’t either. Just as I, having absolutely no skill whatsoever when it comes to music, will enjoy and purchase music of a range of styles—there is an absolute guarantee that the same is true for a musician, a real-estate agent, a banker, a hair stylist, a model, an actor, a writer, a journalist, a politician, a contractor, a student, a teacher, a chef, a doctor, or anyone with their own unique skills, but without the necessary artistic skills to visualize a thought themselves, to appreciate art in all of its variety. There’s no telling to whom a work that is classified as surreal, political, eccentric, or dark may speak to on a level that no other work has.
Personally, as an artist, I admit I have not sold much work in my time thus far (this wasn’t necessarily the goal, although my exposure has been limited). But to those I have sold work to, the art spoke to them on a level so deep, so penetrating that they felt compelled to keep it always. They saw within it a reflection of themselves, for good or ill, and felt themselves drawn to look upon it in almost a state of meditation. They understood that a reflection of the things within that are not all that pleasant are meant to be examined, understood, and improved upon. Knowing oneself is the most important part of a human’s development. It is a great part of what makes us sentient beings. And you cannot know yourself truly without knowing your demons as well.
On a larger scale, these illustrations of the darker nature of humanity are essential to our understanding of global issues. Environmental concerns, political strife, cultural degradation in growing societies, the reduction of endangered species, and the questions concerning our place in the universe at large are all worthy of being reflected in art and can be whittled down to its roots in human nature. The insecurities that plague just one person can affect an entire society or even the world, given a set of circumstances. To highlight those insecurities with the intent to invoke change in people, to help make it understood, is an important and necessary task for the artist.
So when I see someone flinch at a work of art that explores this darker nature, I know in my heart that it is not because the work is unsuccessful. Rather the opposite; the work is very successful, and has reached into its audience’s consciousness and shown them some piece of truth about the world around them. Sometimes the truth is unpleasant. But would you rather be blissfully ignorant? That is a personal choice, a choice to be made individually and respected. I respect my audience’s right to choose not to look at my work if it bothers them. Just as much as I respect and appreciate those who stop and look closer, who want to seek an understanding. However, I do not respect anyone who tries to censor it. So next time an artist, art director–or anyone, for that matter–says that only certain types of art should be seen by the public or their demographic for their sake, remind them that an open mind is a healthy mind.
Humanity comes in many shades.
–Danielle Branchaud 4/26/2014
D Branchaud Art 