Hey All,
Here are 7 things I thought were worth sharing this week:
“Steal Like an Artist” is a fantastic book by Austin Kleon. He writes, “How does an artist look at the world? First, you figure out what’s worth stealing, then you move on to the next thing. That’s about all there is to it. When you look at the world this way, you stop worrying about what’s “good” and what’s “bad”—there’s only stuff worth stealing, and stuff that’s not worth stealing.” Every week Austin sends out an email with 10 things he thinks are worth sharing. I guess you can’t steal what is shared, can you? But, I’m stealing his format for this post, paring his 10 things down to 7.
The 20th century German artist Joseph Beuys claimed “Everyone is an Artist,” which sounds a certain way to you and me, based on our backgrounds. But he was German in the middle of the 20th century with all that entailed, and he meant that art can/should change the social world of humans. “Only art is capable of dismantling the repressive effects of a senile social system that continues to totter along the deathline: to dismantle in order to build 'A SOCIAL ORGANISM AS A WORK OF ART' ... EVERY HUMAN BEING IS AN ARTIST who – from his state of freedom – the position of freedom that he experiences at first-hand – learns to determine the other positions of the TOTAL ART WORK OF THE FUTURE SOCIAL ORDER.” Wow. Lots to chew on.
In The Creative Act, Rick Rubin puts a 21st century, American individualist’s spin on it, replacing Artist with one of our culture’s watch-words: “Everyone is a creator.” Rubin isn’t advocating for social reform like Beuys was. “To live as an artist is a way of being in the world. A way of perceiving. A practice of paying attention. Refining our sensitivity to tune in to the more subtle notes. Looking for what draws us in and what pushes us away. Noticing what feeling tones arise and where they lead. Attuned choice by attuned choice, your entire life is a form of self-expression. You exist as a creative being in a creative universe. A singular work of art.”
So even Trump’s an artist? What kind of art are we talking about? (Have you seen the sports stars copying Trump’s dance?). With politics in the air here in the USA, I’ve been revisiting a book from 2004, Don’t Think of an Elephant! by George Lakoff about how conservatives live in a “Strict Father” frame whereas progressives live in a “Nurturing Parent” frame. Strict father frame acts as though children learn through reward and punishment (like spanking); children become more self-reliant and more self-disciplined by having strict parents; and parents, particularly fathers, are meant to mete out rewards for good behavior as well as punish bad behavior. Nurturing Parents, on the other hand, act as though discipline is much more than strict, unquestioning obedience. Mutual respect and compassion are also rights. Mutual respect and compassion are best taught by example. The outside world is no more inherently hostile than it is inherently friendly. And the world commands respect. So I guess that makes Trump a Strict Father artist who dances without moving his spine to the YMCA song.
Everyone is a Dancer. Everything is Dance. I think these are useful, not true statements. It’s undeniable that gravity is a law to which we are all subject, from the moment we leave the womb. But what do you do with what you’re given? How do you interpret the law of gravity? It’s up to you. I’m suggesting you could think, “I am a dancer,” and that might be useful, if not true (yet).
I wrote a facebook post a while ago about how maybe my work with kids is dance.
The American choreographer Deborah Hay has an amazing book called my body, the buddhist, where she shares, among other things, some incredible dance koans that really broaden the definition of dance. Koans like:
What if where I am is what I need?
What if alignment is everywhere?
What if your teacher (your 53 trillion cells) inspires mine?
Thanks for reading. This is a figment of imagination made real by little movements of fingers on a keyboard. If you’d like to support, please share with a friend. You can also become a paid subscriber.
keep dancing,
Ethan
