SoulPancake / Conversations / “The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possible can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.”

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sirmitchell

- 1 year ago

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"“The arts are not a way to make a living. They are a very human way of making life more bearable. Practicing an art, no matter how well or badly, is a way to make your soul grow, for heaven’s sake. Sing in the shower. Dance to the radio. Tell stories. Write a poem to a friend, even a lousy poem. Do it as well as you possible can. You will get an enormous reward. You will have created something.” " - Kurt Vonnegut

I think more people should take this quote to heart.

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In my view, people who are too self aware to allow that they might create art, are not nearly aware enough.

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Far too often my love for art, my talents, become a 'side project' ..too much like a hobby, purely through that dreaded thing called procrastination. It simply does not take precedent in my life, when it SHOULD. Not to make a living... but not to become a hobby either, but because it's just in me, and every second I don't spend being creative, is wasted. Why wouldn't you share what talents you have, it is so much more rewarding for me to know people enjoy it and are getting something from my creativity. That's all I need.

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I have to agree! Art is self expression. Screaming, "I AM MAD!!!!" is self expression, and could potentially be viewed as artistic.

I don't think art can be defined by a definite list of activities and / or products. Art is something with an idea about the world attached to it. It is a statement on reality, drawing attention to one tiny little detail of the "bigger picture." Art can be about marriage or shoelaces or horse sh*t, it will still be considered art as long as it triggers some sort of emotion or thought or idea.

^ That is how I define art. So I suppose, by my definition, a box I see on the ground is not art, while it is to someone else because it elicits an emotional response from them but not me. However, this implies that art is completely subjective. Is it? It is subjective, but completely subjective? If you do not think something is art, is it not? Or is art objective in that regardless of what you think, it is or is not art?

Now my brain is running in circles.

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People don't create enough, as a general rule.

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Vonnegut is second only to H.L. Menken as most quotable literary as*hole.

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Art is a huge part of my life :)

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That sucks. I was really hoping to get a job making 6 figures with my degree in underwater basket weaving.

I hope starbucks is still hiring.

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I love this quote for so many reasons. The arts are not some sweet, goofy, fun side hobby for New Yorkers and housewives and college students.

Expression of one's self through the arts is a vital component of what it is to be a human being. "It's a way to make your soul grow for heaven's sake"

Since cave men were drawing their hand prints in caves and dancing around fires and telling stories of the gods: We express, we create we are human.

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I disagree, but the payments should be sliced by bazillions.

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Kurt's up in heaven now.

Someone had to say it

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I agree -

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Amen.

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You are so right, but I also like the idea of creativity being free flowing & unconstrained. Once an 'art' dives off the fingertip or tongue of creation it is parachuting into a form no longer your own.

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