The Arts - just something we notice!

The Arts
As I said, I'm an artist and musician. I've designed and made sculpture, jewelry and furniture and play music. So now I'm an expert? No. I just notice a few simple things that I think are important.

One of my children, is in college, and took an art course as an elective. She has some interest and seems to enjoy her results, but she's as impatient for results as I am.

My other child is a really great dancer. She loves drawing too! This brings up the question of how you learn to appreciate the essence of what you create in a way that the activity means something to you? For me, the easiest way might be to look at the nature of the arts involved here - Visual arts and performing arts. Both involve 'creation.'

In the visual arts, what people see is the result of your creation. When it's done, it's done. No 'do-overs' are possible. If you're successful, observers will see what you're trying to express - an idea, emotion, a perception or even an entire philosophy. They may get involved in talking about it (you've made them think!) They may get involved in trying to find how you created the piece… speculate on your creative process, evaluate your technical command and so forth.

In the performing arts, people don't see all the preparation. However, each time you perform the same piece, you are creating right in front of them. If you're successful, they'll 'get' what you're expressing. The next time you perform, you may be emphasizing something completely different! Each time is a 'do-over' and no two performances will be exactly the same.


Music
There really is a difference between 'words' and 'Lyrics.' I remember that almost all the music we listened to in the 60's had great lyrics. No, we didn't always really understand what was being said! But it was new and interesting enough that we actually took the time to explore it, to try and figure it out!

Once in a while we DID finally decide it was really stupid crap! Yet even then, we thought about how it might be said better or more clearly or even more cryptically. Words were to be explored in Lyric form.

Today I hear things like Hip-Hop and wonder what the fascination is with rudeness, vulgarity, anger, degradation and hate. No lyrics. No message. Just venting for money. Just words to inspire everything that the good Christian Reverends preach against.

Poor Don Imus. Where the hell were Jesse Jackson and Al Sharpton when the 'Hip-Hoppers' were promoting even worse, degrading, values and ideas as truth? Imus said some really stupid, unacceptable things. So string him up, crucify him and make him pay for his gross crime! Of course the Hip-Hoppers are treated as cultural heroes, role models and paid handsomely.
Right.

What was it really? A photo op for Jesse and Al to try and convince people they were still involved in the good fight.
Right.

And the music? As the 60’s and 70’s progressed, we got real tired of the 4-chord pablum. Interestingly, people became involved in the quality of ‘studied’ music. Procol Harum, Emerson, Lake and Palmer, Genesis, Yes, Steely Dan, Cream, Blodwyn Pig, King Crimson, The Beatles, even the Beach Boys. They were just a few groups who made an effort to have the music be as exciting as the lyrics. With more interesting music, lyrics could become more important as an integral part of the experience. A little thoughtfulness to the words and periodically a few lines of absolute nonsense were allowed to creep in for fun! Poetry was being supported, even enhanced, by the music again.

Maybe today, musicians are learning all over again? I suppose 3 chords banged out as loud as possible is a good place to start. That's where we started. But we weren't getting paid thousands of dollars or treated like heralding Gods for our efforts. We were kids learning what music could be about as an art form, and then as a medium to reach peoples thoughts, attitudes and ways of living. Yet it is changing. Some of the head-bangers are beginning to create some interesting stuff.

Poetry
Poetry is - never about hate - Always about love. It supports and promotes the love of language. Poetry teaches us to see and understand how language and words can be assembled to express what we really feel. It teaches us that, in being made to feel by what we read or hear, the poet has shown us the commonality of our lives and some of the beauty in what we take for granted every day. Poetry can actually help us appreciate the beauty in the simple existence of our beings.

The language...... For us it's English. That's what Americans speak. and somehow, for centuries, some English speakers have been able to create some really beautiful poetry. From Shakespeare, Dunne, Shelly and Keats to Ginsburg, Kerouack, Frost and Cosby (yes, Bill.) The language has created pictures, environments and worlds.

The words - often vulgar, angry and violent - were used. But for an environment, a passion, a truth, not just for shock value. And that's the difference between a love of language and an abuse of it. That's poetry.