Are we born with talent?

[kayay]

Sometimes I despise the word “gifted”, especially when it seems that those who label themselves thus seem to be the most bitter and emotional out there. For example, I read a rant that it’s “not easy at all”. The blogger complained although being “ranked in the top 1% […] in the world”? s/he was not properly supported, instead being resented for

Comments

[ayvah]

One is labeled as “talented”; both reach the same goal, the latter perhaps with more difficulty, but now they are at the same place in life, same fame, same money, etc. Because the second individual was not a natural as a child does it make him any less of an athlete? By Brady’s argument, yes. "No one would give a hoot."

The point is that the "talent" will reach better outcomes with the same amount of effort. That is, it takes hard work and talent to be successful. Any of us can work hard, but you're born with talent.

I think that there is some truth to this, but I don't think that talent is something that people are born with. It's something we acquire -- albeit accidentally. Such as the unrequited romance that emotionally empowers every one of an artist's heartbroken songs. And there's the luck of releasing your first album right when the public is desperate for your particular kind of music.

Very few people at the time considered he had talent at all. Or, to rephrase your own words, the popular opinion of the time would have been

[theorah]

interesting post! You're just full of fasinating LJ posts, you are =D

[zephranthes]

I was caught up in this exact debate (lol internet debate) just last week.

My personal belief is that the measure of skill and the identification of contributing factors in artistic achievement is such a nebulous concept, that its not worth even thinking about. Hell, artistic ability is such a completely subjective factor, how can it even be measured?

Also, even if 'talent' (passive ability) did exist, so few people would actually achieve their maximum potential (or even a portion) that its existence is completely trivial in the face of active improvement of ability aka blood, sweat and tears.

Overall (imo) the concept of 'natural talent' is just an unproven concept that underachievers use to bemoan their own progress when they should instead blame their own tendency to come up with excuses rather than work hard. I think everyone deserves their level of artistic ability (except for people who lose their drawing hand in freak accidents)

Of course this is all completely hypocritical coming from someone like me.