On the Art of Writing

(Or: Art?  My Dad's Name was Art!)

By Kevin M Reese

I can't tell you how many times I have been talking with a friend or acquaintance about what I do for a living where they will proceed to tell me that they have this great idea for a script.  My usual response is:  "sitting down and starting is the hardest part of the work." 

I have come to the realization that there is no such thing as "high art."  Not in theatre, visual art, music, architecture-- anything.  It is all expression, communication.  If you can find one person (even if it's yourself) that can connect with what you've created, I believe you are an artistic success.  If you can produce something that a LOT of people can connect with-- you are considered a COMMERCIAL success. But as far as "art" goes, I don't believe it matters whether you paint a picture of a flower that only you can appreciate or write a play that wins a hundred awards and seen by millions of people.  Art is art; by definition, it is purely subjective-- in the eye of the beholder.

Now, it does seem logical in our capitalistic society (I don't use that term in a derogatory sense), that it is GOOD if a work is a commercial success-- appreciated by a large number of people.  Commercial success implies that the artist will achieve some gain from his work (money, power, a place to crash for the night, etc.).  An artist needs to eat, and if he can pay bills through the proceeds of his art, then he can spend more time producing more art because he doesn't have to spend the time away from his studio or typewriter to punch the clock at McDonalds.  Someday I may write my thoughts about copyrights, intellectual property and royalties, but there are lots of good articles on that already.

Some people know how to express themselves better in various medium than others.  And, again, it seems logical that the more people who can connect to that expression, the better.  I have seen kids laugh so hard that they are moved to tears by the sight of a grown man singing a happy song and shaking his butt in abandon.  I have also experienced the delight of watching a group of adults wipe a tear away while listening to a song about a mother or father's love for a child.  Both situations brought about the desired reaction from the audience that was intended by the creator of the work.  Both situations were successful-- for their respective audience at that given time.

Art, to me, is merely creating something that wasn't there before.  It can be for your own benefit and enjoyment or you may share it with others-- it doesn't matter, it's still art.  

But, again, I could be completely wrong. . . .