What Matters Is Saying Yes
I've been listening to an interview with the prolific writer, Joyce Carol Oates. I am AMAZED at the amount of books she publishes. Sometimes there are two a year. I've only read one of her books, Blonde, about Norma Jean Baker (a.k.a. Marilyn Monroe), which I loved. I've had a few discussions with people who say with more than the usual disdain that she shouldn't publish so much--not everything she writes is SO GREAT. The people that have said this to me, have seemed angry at her, disgusted, and even enjoyed knocking down a "great" writer. In each conversation, the complainer will cite a short story that they read recently that was just "awful."
My impression has been that Oates has an ambitious mind that doesn't question her ideas, she just lets the idea flow. I am inspired by her unending breath of words and stories. When I think of these handful of conversations I've had, I think about how the tone in these people's voices hint at a sort of outrage. How DARE she write whatever she wants and publish it at whim. One person said, "She should just write ONE good thing and otherwise just shut the hell up." Another said, "I just HATE IT that just because she is 'Joyce Carol Oates' she can publish crap." The same tone was heard in another conversation I had with someone of Neil Young: "Neil Young should have been harnassed years ago. Someone should have cut him off and not let him do just whatever he wants." Do I need to tell you that all of these comments were made by artists?
I am amazed at how STINGEY we can be and how THREATENED. We think we have high ideals, but really we are tyrants, believing there is not enough room for everyone's work. Mostly, what I hear in all those acidic comments is fear. I have probably said things that are just as bad, when I have believed that there was a "class system," that I desperately wanted to not only belong to, but be on the higher rung. Eventually, all that bitterness and fear caught up with me, and I was a blocked artist for three years. If I have one gift from that period, it is to believe that creating art is best done from joy and from a sense of abundance--not from a place that is cut throat and critical. I said this yesterday, it is a miracle that ANYONE creates ANYTHING. If the worst thing that Joyce Carol Oates does is not listen to all that crap, and keep DOING HER WORK, I think the world will survive.
Dave Eggers said: "Do not be critics, you people, I beg you. I was a critic and I wish I could take it all back because it came from a smelly and ignorant place in me, and spoke with a voice that was all rage and envy. Do not dismiss a book until you have written one, and do not dismiss a movie until you have made one, and do not dismiss a person until you have met them. It is a fuckload of work to be open-minded and generous and understanding and forgiving and accepting, but Christ, that is what matters. What matters is saying yes."
There is so much to yet be built in this world, and you, reading this, and me writing this, need to get to work. So say, yes, and get busy.
My impression has been that Oates has an ambitious mind that doesn't question her ideas, she just lets the idea flow. I am inspired by her unending breath of words and stories. When I think of these handful of conversations I've had, I think about how the tone in these people's voices hint at a sort of outrage. How DARE she write whatever she wants and publish it at whim. One person said, "She should just write ONE good thing and otherwise just shut the hell up." Another said, "I just HATE IT that just because she is 'Joyce Carol Oates' she can publish crap." The same tone was heard in another conversation I had with someone of Neil Young: "Neil Young should have been harnassed years ago. Someone should have cut him off and not let him do just whatever he wants." Do I need to tell you that all of these comments were made by artists?
I am amazed at how STINGEY we can be and how THREATENED. We think we have high ideals, but really we are tyrants, believing there is not enough room for everyone's work. Mostly, what I hear in all those acidic comments is fear. I have probably said things that are just as bad, when I have believed that there was a "class system," that I desperately wanted to not only belong to, but be on the higher rung. Eventually, all that bitterness and fear caught up with me, and I was a blocked artist for three years. If I have one gift from that period, it is to believe that creating art is best done from joy and from a sense of abundance--not from a place that is cut throat and critical. I said this yesterday, it is a miracle that ANYONE creates ANYTHING. If the worst thing that Joyce Carol Oates does is not listen to all that crap, and keep DOING HER WORK, I think the world will survive.
Dave Eggers said: "Do not be critics, you people, I beg you. I was a critic and I wish I could take it all back because it came from a smelly and ignorant place in me, and spoke with a voice that was all rage and envy. Do not dismiss a book until you have written one, and do not dismiss a movie until you have made one, and do not dismiss a person until you have met them. It is a fuckload of work to be open-minded and generous and understanding and forgiving and accepting, but Christ, that is what matters. What matters is saying yes."
There is so much to yet be built in this world, and you, reading this, and me writing this, need to get to work. So say, yes, and get busy.
posted by Summer Pierre at
10:49 AM
5 Comments:
Those words from Dave Eggers should be framed and hung on every wall Summer.
When I was a few years younger than I am today I was every bit the opinionated snob you've just described. I criticised everything, but produced nothing. I'd like to be able to say it's something people grow out of, but that's not always the case.
Today I'm in awe of anyone with a truly creative mind, and appreciate the true gems they produce all the more when they appear in the middle of less inspiring work.
great post.
all of these angry artists (of which i have been one) are missing the point, i think.....the motivation for creating isn't greatness; it's expression.
Oh, THANK YOU for this post, Summer. It is so affirming of the creative path.
... and yes, yes, YES! I love that quote ... and I'm getting busy :-).
How many times have I myself been a target of this kind of thing - 'if K. just FOCUSED on one thing instead of doing this and that and cards and illus. and fine art and now farming..." I thing Eggers also hit it on the head - ENVY - I find most of the people that have said these things to me directly or vicariously through others hoping I'd hear and "learn" were either shadow artist wanna-be's, or incredibly jealous of my lifestyle. One very wealthy friend [? ]of ours who has seen me go from unknown illustrator to artist and running my own business for 10 years [and has also bought a lot of my art - to the point where I think she likes to be considered a sponsor, fine] - anyway, she says things like "You are such a little fairy in the woods, I'm not sure how hard you want to work " this becasue she thinks my income should be triple...Anyway, you got me going - one very beautifully open woman I know told me a story that I often replay in my mind when I hear comments like these: If you were a pirate, a real pirate, and you just did a painting or wrote a book, and you walked in the room knowing it was real in your heart, and head, and the people in the room started saying things like, 'Not so great, pirate" what would you the pirate do or say? So she always encouraged me to be a pirate, everyday [this applies for all personal and business relationships]. She also suggested I ask myself, "WHO SAYS?'
Thanks for the vent, Summer. {I won't even get into how I feel about things they say about Neil over the years!}
Sometimes reading your blog is creepy because of the brain-sharing thing we seem to have. Case in point: someone told me that Dave Eggers quote last night as we had a conversation about criticism.
Woooooooo!
It's true though. I have engaged in SO MUCH shit-talking over the years with my hater friends (Rico, YOUR BOYFRIEND, Rigg St. residents etc.) that I can pretty much freeze myself as an artist cause I know exactly how to put myself down now.
Sometimes curmugeonhood is awesome and I'll always love those haters (for instance: my boyfriend). I struggle not to be one though. You've always inspired me in this.
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