LJ Idol Week #22a - "Behind the Curtain"

[prog_schlock]

This is my first of two entries for Week #22 of therealljidol.

Trigger Warning: some non-graphic discussion of child abuse.

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Holding a Mirror Up to NatureIts not rocket science, what I do. Its not brain surgery

Comments

[gratefuladdict]

And I cried reading this one. But it was still good. <3

[prog_schlock]

I fought with this piece all week so I'm glad it had an impact. Thank you for reading and commenting!

[adoptedwriter]

I would add drawing, painting, fabric art, etc as well. If it puts amusement, good and beauty into the Universe then it is all very noble indeed!

AW

[prog_schlock]

Absolutely - didn't mean to exclude any of the arts here. I think art in general is powerful and transformative at its best.

Thanks for reading and commenting!

[orockthro]

This was beautiful.
Live art, like theater, like music performance, is such a powerful thing. I remember going to my first professional symphony concert and *feeling the vibrations of the cellos* through the floor, and actually crying.
As a writer (and an 2D media artist) I don't get to experience that like you do-- I don't get to *see* art on people's faces. I'm so glad live performance exists, and I wish it were even more accessible to more people!

Also, that photo is the best. :)

[prog_schlock]

Oh my goodness, yet. Some musical notes only really work their best when you hear them live in the right place. David Byrne wrote a book on how music works that makes a pretty solid argument that architecture has had a profound impact on how we experience music over the millennium. A room that lets you feel particular vibrations is going to allow certain instruments to have greater impact on us.

I can rant about this and that ultimately wasn't your point.

I think that 2D and written art is maybe even more profoundly important for most people. That private act of making a deep connection with art can change a person's life. I know I can think of ten books off the top of my head (and probably 20 paintings) that completely rocked my world in a positive way - and in ways that no movie or song or play ever has.

Thanks for reading and commenting!

[bleodswean]

This is an ethos and an admirable one! And it applies to so much of what we call entertainment. Although you chose "Behind the Curtain" as your prompt, this really spoke to Tolstoy's idea of "Art as an Infection" to me! If Art doesn't infect the viewer with an emotion, Tolstoy believed it wasn't art. Nice work!

[prog_schlock]

The two pieces I worked on this week definitely influenced each other - this one I struggled with for almost the whole week. The other one sprung out of my head fully formed. But, yeah, I do believe that great art should infect people! I didn't realize this was a Tolstoy quote!

Thanks for reading and commenting!

[murielle]

This! Every first year theatre student should read this. I wish....

"That's a pretty noble thing."

It is. And I believe, so are you. Thank you. This is perspective in a nutshell.

[prog_schlock]

I think we in the arts here "what you do isn't important" so often that its easy to forget that, for many people what we do is extremely important. We, as a culture, often ignore stuff that isn't focused on making money. Its a shame we don't focus as much on making happiness. Alas.

Thanks for reading and commenting!

[murielle]

Yes!