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JOURNAL
March 2006
THE HARD WORK OF MAKING ART
To this day, I have never had that luxury. Even Virginia Woolf knew what I was talking about. She married rich and was thankful for it. In her essay, A Room of One's Own, she basically says that in order to write you need money . . . and a room of your own. I barely have a room, but when one is working 50 hours per week to pay the bills, and living in a room that includes bedroom, dining area, office and living room, it's hard to get the necessary privacy — even if you are alone and can find the time and energy to sit there trying to create inspiration.
Is there such a thing as the self-made success story anymore? Ann Landers used to say that the ABCs of success were Ability, Breaks and Courage. There are still a lot of people out there with the Ability and Courage — I meet them every day — but very few getting the Breaks. Perhaps that explains the ongoing popularity of "American Idol". Those kids are trying their darnedest to work their way to the top — based on talent and effort, and without having to break the law or take their clothes off (see my last column). Even still, considering the hundreds of thousands of kids that show up for the auditions, only 24 go on to the finals, and then only one is picked. In the first four seasons, how many "Idol" contestants went on to have lucrative careers? A handful, and even they are having to fight to stay relevant (think Ruben Studdard, Diana DeGarmo, Bo Bice).
The show, though, promotes the myth of the American Dream, that we are loathe to let go of: that if you work hard enough, you can be whatever you want to be in this great land of ours. Nonsense! For every one that makes it, there are hundreds and hundreds who naturally get tired and give up, taking a mid-level managerial job in a corporation or moving to a city in the midwest. Or worse.
Well, you may be wondering, this is a cheery column and sounds like a lot of sour grapes on Kevin's part. What is the solution? Believe it or not, I offer optimism! Despite the unlikelihood of getting the fame and fortune result you may crave, over time you will learn to appreciate the art for the art's sake. You must keep seeking out new ways to express yourself, new people to excite you. This winter I took up tap dancing. Every Friday night, I head down to a Soho space to take a tap dancing lesson for $5/hour (you read that correctly and I'm not telling you where it is!). Do I think I'm one day going to replace the late Gregory Hines? Ah . . . no! In fact, I'm pretty bad at it. But there is great joy in trying it, and I'm about the youngest in the class — that doesn't happen very often anymore!
It was the craving for new experience and expanding my art that led me to City College to pursue the MFA degree in creative writing. So far, I've not found the time to rewrite any of the stories I've submitted. It's frustrating, but doesn't take the joy away from the initial act of creating.
Do I wish I inherited a million dollars and didn't have to work at an office or a bar every day? For sure! (I never understood those lottery winners who insist they will keep their day jobs. Hello! There is so much to do, so much to see, people! Do it! See it!) Am I going to stop doing what I do because I have to have a salary job? No way!
Besides, we can all take comfort in this: Michael Jackson and Virginia Woolf, for all their freedom and success, didn't come to such happy endings.
What's Your Opinion?
KevScoHall@Verizon.net