Today I had my second ceramics class. I am not an artist, and I am very nervous. I don't want to mess up or fail. However, there is another student in my class whose anxiety is far stronger than mine. She is so scared of failing that she doesn't even start. Funny thing is, I am sure she would be great at ceramics. The first piece she did had symmetry and detail, unlike my uneven edges and imperfect shapes. Still, she is paralyzed of her fear of not being right.
We live in a society that judges everyone, and everything, all the time. Think about our TV shows, American Idol, X Factor, Dancing With the Stars. Passionate people sit in front of judges, who tell them whether they are good enough to continue with their craft. The silly thing is, these shows rely on concensus. All judges have to agree for the person to move on or get a high score. But in art, in romance and in life, when is unanimous approval for love or pleasure?
Think about your favorite singer. Would everyone agree that he/she has a great voice or the best voice? No, but the music they make is good to YOU. It moves YOU. And thats all you need, right? If they have 1 fan or 1 million fans, that doesn't change its appeal to you. Think about the person you love. Does it matter internally if other people love them as much as you do? You probably wouldn't want anyone else to love them the way you do right? Your interest in them is enough to make them interesting, not a panel of judges, not universal enjoyment. The crowd doesn't matter to your heart.
So why does the crowd matter at all? Why do we let the potential for criticism stop us from starting. Why can't being good enough for a small group, or being good enough for ourselves, be good enough to make the first attempt?
Maybe I can't be the American Idol of any of my endeavors. But that wont stop me from celebrating my own work, singing my own song, and trying my best.
No comments:
Post a Comment