she said "in the days that you were hopelessly poor, i just liked you more.."
i could go on to quote john stuart mill and his greatest happiness principle, but i think i'm too worked up to even do that!
basically, in a conversation with someone tonight, this person said that it's selfish to go to college with the expectation that you'll get to work in a field that you love. that back in the 50's people were content just having a job that pays, but now everyone wants a life and job that's perfectly satisfying. he also mentioned that it would be better to just go to school for something that pays well and then just be able to do ceramics on the side. this of course is stupid for two reasons: 1. let's say that i decide to become a doctor or lawyer or something of the sort. i wouldn't HAVE time to do ceramics because i'd always be working, even off the clock i would get called in for something. and sometimes having money means having more bills - i would be in a higher economic class and therefore would have more expectations pressed upon me. all the things i could afford to buy, i wouldn't enjoy because my time would be spent making the money to pay for them. and putting in countless hours into a job i don't enjoy doing would make me so miserable that i probably would lose the creative drive to even do art! not to mention i'd be one of those doctors/lawyers/teachers whatever that CLEARLY only does their job for the money, and this would be reflected on my patients/clients/students. some of the best experiences you have are with the people who love their job and love helping you.
and 2. art isn't just a hobby for me. it's my life. i don't do it because i want to - i do it because i need to. it's become such a part of me that questioning its purpose is utterly useless. and to really create art, you have to give up your entire life for it. he told me that he works 50 hours a week and he hates it, but it's worth it just to have a "real job." i told him that during the school semester, i put in an average of 70 hours a week for classes and homework combined and i don't get paid for it (in fact throw myself further in debt) but it's totally worth it. but he said after i finish school it won't pay off to have an art degree.
yes, realistically speaking, i won't get my "dream job" and even if i do, most independent artists don't reach financial stability or recognition until after they're 30. but if i'm willing to work for it anyways..well doesn't that say something about how little i care about just working to make money? and what constitutes having a "satisfying" life? i don't want to starve or struggle all the time. i like to travel once a year, which takes me a long time to save up for. i'd like to have a medium-sized house so i can have studio space and a kiln room someday. and when i'm older and probably decide to adopt a child (and assuming i will be single and supporting myself), i'd like to give her everything she wants within reason. but i don't need a ridiculous gas-guzzling suv (bad for the environment), or 5 children (has anyone thought about the effects of overpopulization in this country?), and i don't need a hoard of material possessions to sit in my house and collect dust - and throw out 6 months later because they're "technologically outdated."
grr! grrr! are all men with good paying jobs douchebags because of it??
i finally saw art school confidential (hilarious, but completely completely true) and although i'll admit that it's made me too insane for most people to handle, i also think that i will never see eye to eye with these so called "normal boys." eff that. i can have my head in the clouds and still keep my feet on the ground. although, i would have to be super tall for that. or maybe have stilts. yes, stilts.
hmm.
basically, in a conversation with someone tonight, this person said that it's selfish to go to college with the expectation that you'll get to work in a field that you love. that back in the 50's people were content just having a job that pays, but now everyone wants a life and job that's perfectly satisfying. he also mentioned that it would be better to just go to school for something that pays well and then just be able to do ceramics on the side. this of course is stupid for two reasons: 1. let's say that i decide to become a doctor or lawyer or something of the sort. i wouldn't HAVE time to do ceramics because i'd always be working, even off the clock i would get called in for something. and sometimes having money means having more bills - i would be in a higher economic class and therefore would have more expectations pressed upon me. all the things i could afford to buy, i wouldn't enjoy because my time would be spent making the money to pay for them. and putting in countless hours into a job i don't enjoy doing would make me so miserable that i probably would lose the creative drive to even do art! not to mention i'd be one of those doctors/lawyers/teachers whatever that CLEARLY only does their job for the money, and this would be reflected on my patients/clients/students. some of the best experiences you have are with the people who love their job and love helping you.
and 2. art isn't just a hobby for me. it's my life. i don't do it because i want to - i do it because i need to. it's become such a part of me that questioning its purpose is utterly useless. and to really create art, you have to give up your entire life for it. he told me that he works 50 hours a week and he hates it, but it's worth it just to have a "real job." i told him that during the school semester, i put in an average of 70 hours a week for classes and homework combined and i don't get paid for it (in fact throw myself further in debt) but it's totally worth it. but he said after i finish school it won't pay off to have an art degree.
yes, realistically speaking, i won't get my "dream job" and even if i do, most independent artists don't reach financial stability or recognition until after they're 30. but if i'm willing to work for it anyways..well doesn't that say something about how little i care about just working to make money? and what constitutes having a "satisfying" life? i don't want to starve or struggle all the time. i like to travel once a year, which takes me a long time to save up for. i'd like to have a medium-sized house so i can have studio space and a kiln room someday. and when i'm older and probably decide to adopt a child (and assuming i will be single and supporting myself), i'd like to give her everything she wants within reason. but i don't need a ridiculous gas-guzzling suv (bad for the environment), or 5 children (has anyone thought about the effects of overpopulization in this country?), and i don't need a hoard of material possessions to sit in my house and collect dust - and throw out 6 months later because they're "technologically outdated."
grr! grrr! are all men with good paying jobs douchebags because of it??
i finally saw art school confidential (hilarious, but completely completely true) and although i'll admit that it's made me too insane for most people to handle, i also think that i will never see eye to eye with these so called "normal boys." eff that. i can have my head in the clouds and still keep my feet on the ground. although, i would have to be super tall for that. or maybe have stilts. yes, stilts.
hmm.