Again, I can easily draw parallels between what's been said to you and things that I've heard repeatedly in the academic poetic community. Things like, "don't write about your childhood, it's too -sentimental-!" "Sentimental" is a nasty, nasty word in contemporary poetry. We're not allowed to see the emotion from the inside, but we have to figure out a way to be outside of it like the rest of our readers. I get frustrated with that. It sounds very similar to what you were being advised to do/not do. But the bottom line for any form of art is that we don't do it, ultimately, for approval from a readership/viewership. Yes, it's nice to be recognized, and an ego boost to the n'th degree to be published, but art is overall a very, very personal undertaking. I'm not sure I think it would be art if it wasn't. There are way, way to many opinions these days on what is or isn't art, that you just have to do what you do, and love it (or else why bother!) and keep throwing it out there, and hope that there are at least a few other people who get it too. If there are, that's amazing! If not, fuck 'em. I don't know about you, but when I finish a poem (though they're never really finished), I get such a thrill just from having written something that no one has ever thought of writing before (you know, as far as I know, at least ;) ). And I'm like, woah, *I* put those words together and made something beautiful and complex and important (at least to me)! I'm over simpifying the emotion, but I don't write because I want to, necessarily. It's still work, and I'm lazy. But often, I can't NOT write, just like I'm guessing you couldn't NOT paint, or draw, or cartoon. Rejection sucks, no two ways about that, as do untactful, mean people (And, yes, I think some of that was just mean). And some people, even people that you like and that like you, just won't ever get it. It's the nature of such a diverse art world, I think, that art is no longer either 'great' or 'good' or 'bad.' It's great to someone, but not to 100 other people. If you're between ideas, that's fine, happens to me all the time ;) but I hope you're not NOT doing a big project because your confidence was shaken from that conversation. I think if you really wanted to do what you call museum quality art, you most definately could. Maybe that's not the kind of art that you love doing. I know I have no desire to write the next great modern epic poem. bleh. Just do what you do. I've seen enough of your versitility and talent to know that eventually, whether it's Tamino or something farther down the road, you'll find the right place for your style. Damn the man!
Don't worry about lack of paragraphs, Becca! It denotes feeling. And I really appreciate the kind words. I wish I had been able to offer more feedback on your poetry. It's something I don't really understand, not formally. And I guess that when I get all "arty," that's why people might feel intimidated in responding to my work as well.
I'm currently not doing a big project because I just don't have anything that's grabbing me enough to keep my interested. The few stories I've come up with don't seem to be important enough. Fite and Tamino seemed so easy, in a way. They came to me and I just set to work on them.
I still draw, just mostly little designs and stuff in my pads. Drawing just to draw. Maybe when you come over, I can show you the rest of the quoted conversation. It really makes Tyler angry.
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I'm currently not doing a big project because I just don't have anything that's grabbing me enough to keep my interested. The few stories I've come up with don't seem to be important enough. Fite and Tamino seemed so easy, in a way. They came to me and I just set to work on them.
I still draw, just mostly little designs and stuff in my pads. Drawing just to draw. Maybe when you come over, I can show you the rest of the quoted conversation. It really makes Tyler angry.
Many hugs, Becca. You're really kind.
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