ok, so i was having a discussion with someone about interaction vs. art
here is what i used to believe: interaction and creation are one in the same; you can't have one without the other. to create is to interact. it's the most natural thing in the world to do. and why do we do it? well, i suppose that's a question you guys could answer, but i'll go ahead and give mine now: i believe sharing what we create is a basic human need. if you're creating something you view as worthwhile, there's going to be at least one other person who will get something out of it, and to be on the producing end of that insight is one of the most rewarding things you could possibly do.
for example, let's say you're a musician and you've just finished what in your opinion is the greatest song you've ever made. you think it's beautiful and you're proud of it, so you share it with others. you play it for your friends, you record it, you upload it to YouTube. the response is sensational. everyone tells you how great it is, how much it made them feel or made them think. this of course makes you feel incredible, so probably your self-esteem soars higher and higher and all this feedback only makes you want to create more music, so you go back to the drawing board and start over again, this time determined to create something even better.
this is where it starts to get tricky. at this point, would you say that this new creation is somehow cheaper because its reasons for ever having come into existence is somehow less personal? maybe it would have been better if you'd never shared this song with anyone. afterall, whether or not you'd have shared the song, it would still be the greatest song you ever made - more ears having heard it doesn't make it so, right?
so basically, the root of all this is: is sharing art always the right thing to do, or sometimes, is it the wrong thing to do? if a person has the need to always show their creations to other people, does that somehow mean they are doing it for the wrong reasons? should there be times when you just create for yourself?
EDIT: i know this is probably a mess of a post, forgive me, it's late where i am and i'm tired but i was having a light bulb moment. i hope someone takes the bait and tries to engage me in this because i'm interested in what y'all think.
here is what i used to believe: interaction and creation are one in the same; you can't have one without the other. to create is to interact. it's the most natural thing in the world to do. and why do we do it? well, i suppose that's a question you guys could answer, but i'll go ahead and give mine now: i believe sharing what we create is a basic human need. if you're creating something you view as worthwhile, there's going to be at least one other person who will get something out of it, and to be on the producing end of that insight is one of the most rewarding things you could possibly do.
for example, let's say you're a musician and you've just finished what in your opinion is the greatest song you've ever made. you think it's beautiful and you're proud of it, so you share it with others. you play it for your friends, you record it, you upload it to YouTube. the response is sensational. everyone tells you how great it is, how much it made them feel or made them think. this of course makes you feel incredible, so probably your self-esteem soars higher and higher and all this feedback only makes you want to create more music, so you go back to the drawing board and start over again, this time determined to create something even better.
this is where it starts to get tricky. at this point, would you say that this new creation is somehow cheaper because its reasons for ever having come into existence is somehow less personal? maybe it would have been better if you'd never shared this song with anyone. afterall, whether or not you'd have shared the song, it would still be the greatest song you ever made - more ears having heard it doesn't make it so, right?
so basically, the root of all this is: is sharing art always the right thing to do, or sometimes, is it the wrong thing to do? if a person has the need to always show their creations to other people, does that somehow mean they are doing it for the wrong reasons? should there be times when you just create for yourself?
EDIT: i know this is probably a mess of a post, forgive me, it's late where i am and i'm tired but i was having a light bulb moment. i hope someone takes the bait and tries to engage me in this because i'm interested in what y'all think.
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