I have never been much for Marilyn Monroe, but I love the image of her in my userpic.

[axolotl]

How can people who devote their lives to what is essentially luxury not consider themselves artfucks? People who teach poetry. Musicians. Writers. People who want to make a living reading and adjusting other people's writing (like Emmy!) I am an artfuck. It is sad, but true

Comments

[nickyhopkins]

I write because it makes me laugh. And it makes other people laugh. And I get paid to do it (sometimes).

I don't care about making the world place or making a dent. I care about making money and laughter (mine and other peoples').

All that "meaning" bullshit is bullshit.

[axolotl]

That rant was not directly inspired by you, Randy. England is chalk full of said artfucks. However, as I believe I stated in a poll once, I do think you are a bit of an artfuck. Look at some of your posts critiquing music and literature. Only an artfuck could get so pissed, and rather hostile, about those things.
But I do not say this to be mean to you! I mostly have good things to say about Randy D. And I recognize the artfucksiness in myself.
What's more, I believe there are different types of artfucks. Thankfully, you are of the type who does not take himself entirely seriously. I have a poetry professor who does not seem to find anything funny or frivilous about her job or her life. It is very disappointing after Madonick.

[nickyhopkins]

I got hostile about those things when people take themselves seriously. There is a difference between taking "art" seriously and one's self as an "artist" seriously.

A discrepancy I'd think is ever prevalent on your friendslist from time to time. ;)

[axolotl]

There is a difference, although I think that art can be taken far too seriously. I think pretty much everything I am doing in college is past that "too seriously" point

[tskirvin]

Thank you!

class awareness?

[busbeytheelder]

I think some of those replying to this post are missing the fundamental point. It appears that Emmy has realized the necessity of economic privilege for some professions to be an option, and is surprised that others, particularly those in those professions, have difficulty seeing that and feeling thankful/lucky for it.

The fact that it's what you can do for a living is exactly the point. The fact that you do it "for the joy" is exactly the point. If you were not located where there were sufficiently wealthy people to buy stuff that doesn't provide basic sustenance you would not have a job that did not involve killing yourself faster. If you did not have sufficient opportunities to worry about your own pleasure vice survival, you would not be in a position to argue about whether you did something for the bling , for the world, or for some food.

Re: class awareness?

[estrie]

It appears that Emmy has realized the necessity of economic privilege for some professions to be an option

like computer science?

sorry, i know that's not so clean cut at all, but at the heart of it, i really think i'm right. any situation that allows any industrialization where people get enough time off and energy left over to think and move will create art and/or expression of some sort...

Re: class awareness?

[estrie]

ha, duh, i ended it too soon.

i guess i'm counting on an underground to emerge, always, where people will have the opportunity to make their survival from doing the art. in likelihood the underground can support a much smaller population of artists, however... there are lots of starving artists now too. they just often have parents. or liberals to feed them. which highly depend on a comfortable society... but i don't think it's necessary.

Re: class awareness?

[busbeytheelder]

I hope I didn't give the impression that I consider my profession to be "ST8 Wurkin Class Y'all!"

I think my comp sci job certainly requires those same things as the professions mentioned above. I think Emmy didn't immediately extend her ranting to my thought-work because she is closer to those things that she did talk about. I am certainly constantly amazed that I am paid an extravagant (from the perspective of someone who was working in a grocery store) sum in order to just think about some shit all day. I might be less on the culture-propogation scale because my particular profession is applicable to other interests of wealthy nations (like "defense

[gvngeist]

I don't think art should be regarded as a luxury but I know where you're coming from. It's definitely a priviledge to be able to make a living from making art and most people simply can't do it. Almost every true artist I know is living somewhere around the poverty line in order to do what they love. Its easy to feel resentment towards those who seem to take their position for granted. I know I do.

[nyxdae]

So...Am I an artfuck too then? Or like a...VideoGameFuck? Because it's something I love to do...

A lot of artists who devote themselves to their passion are not living a life of luxury at all...So it makes me have a hard time understanding how their job in art IS a luxury if it is also something that hinders their ability to survive...Maybe im too tired... :-p

[axolotl]

I did not mean to say that people in artsy jobs are necessarily living large. As a copy editor, I am well aware that I am probably going to be "lower middle class". I accept this. My entire livelihood will be helping to manufacture that which is not a necessity.
I imagine you were primarily referring to "starving artists" though. The thing about starving artists is that they more or less chose their poverty. I have never heard of someone being forced into a life of desperately trying to make and sell poetry. Or music. Or any other kind of art. Many of them even went to college and then decided to make a living off of being an artist. The fact that our society supports art enough for people to even feel comfortable making that decision says a lot. An Indian flatmate of mine was slightly horrified when she heard what my major is. "What on earth do you plan to do with that?" she asked me. I told her about wanting to be a copy editor and she was still somewhat confused. She told me that her sister had written beautiful poetry

[nyxdae]

Ahhhh... I see what you are saying now. I totally think art and the creation of art is a necessity for society. So I see where I was getting confused.