Art, Goodness, & The Business of Self-Discovery | Tufts Roundtable ...

I was talking to a friend earlier this summer about how I felt that the process of creativity ought to be tied together with something larger than ourselves. In my mind, creativity harnessed towards some social good is an extremely powerful tool. Mediums like photography, video, writing, and art can tell stories that compel others into action. I was enthusiastically rattling on?about my idea of working with branding, event-planning and multimedia storytelling for non-profits and corporate social responsibility departments, when I noticed that my friend, an artist, didn?t seem to share my excitement. When I asked why he disagreed, he said, ?you?re not taking into consideration the well-being of the artist.? Or something to that effect.

I remember pausing in a moment of realization. I hadn?t really thought about that up to that point. Had I been too naive? Was I undermining the process of creative expression?

Art and self-discovery are often intricately intwined in a type of symbiotic relationship. There is always a bout of self-centeredness when it comes to creativity. Creativity doesn?t appear out of nowhere, as much as we?d like it to; although there are people who are born with more of a creative inclination than others, often one has to expose oneself to all sorts of ideas and experiences in order to produce something meaningful. You talk to different kinds of people. You read widely. You gaze at photographs and paintings. You go on walks and you travel, all in a bid to open up your mind, in the process casting judgements out the window.

There is definitely value in creating out of a need for self-expression. After all, it is impossible to give out of emptiness? or so they say. But as with most things, I don?t think it?s an either-or situation.

Another friend, a talented graphic designer, tweeted something recently that caught my attention ? ?Our lives are on loan. Let?s use them for something bigger.? While I don?t belittle the value of self-discovery, I also think it?s important to recognize that in the end it all boils down to perspective and what you?re living for.

When confronted with an urgent problem, you have no choice but to face it head on. In many ways, I think that was what happened to friend no.2. She saw the crisis of human trafficking, was impacted by it, and moved into action. She uses design as a way to press the anti-trafficking movement forward, by designing merchandise, websites and posters for an anti-trafficking organization. And doing good doesn?t mean that one scrimps on the quality. She is good. To her, this type of work brings full satisfaction. It makes her more of who she is. It adds to her identity.

Perhaps it doesn?t bring full satisfaction to friend no.1, but that is okay. If your season is of self-discovery, then by all means walk down that path. Tread carefully, as with all things, but believe that this path will lead you to where you?re meant to be.

(For those who are interested in how God relates to all of this, this is something I found that could be interesting.)

Source: http://www.trcommons.org/2012/07/art-goodness-the-business-of-self-discovery/

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