What are the conceivable uses for a feather? Most immediately, you might say for a bird to fly with. Any history or movie buffs, might also assert there function as a writing utensil. Academic or science oriented minds, might say they can act as illustrations of the power of gravity. It would take a truly creative mind to see a feather and move passed fixed functionality and see a potential canvas.
 

An art phenomenon gaining steam is an example for the possible invention of man. To make beauty from a cast off piece of an animal is remarkable. We as humans are capable or immeasurable creativity; what is old, simple, boring or common place that you can make beautiful? That is my challenge to you. Get out of your head and see passed inherent function and see how it can be more.

Women as Humans

A sliver of light shines through translucent curtains and illuminates a bruised face with deep set eyes radiating despair. She always knew her life would be like this. It was her mother’s life, her aunt’s, her neighbor’s, and her grandmother’s as well. It’s been this way for as long as anyone can remember. Yet she can’t help but yearn for more. For a life unencumbered by dated oppressive traditions and an existence where she has a voice that can be heard and respected outside the safety of her own mind. She does not wish to be treated as a man. Her only wish is to be treated as a human and to have those unalienable rights she was endowed with (as she is human) extended to her.
This fictional woman is only fiction on paper. Her plight is understood by women across the world. All cultures are guilty of the oppression of women, from the United States to Uganda. Not one country is innocent. This sin varies in severity from denial of equal pay to genital mutilation. Many first world countries have progressed to less violent forms of discrimination and are on their way to embracing women as equal members of the human race. However, women in less developed areas are still subject to extreme brutality in the name of tradition. Cultural customs like stoning a woman for being accused of infidelity, imprisonment for their own sexual assault, and female genital mutilation (most frequently practiced on young girls aged 0-15) are hard realities many women face. Practices like these treat women in an animalistic fashion; they stem from the idea that women are sub-human and require brutish force to control.

We live in a world where tolerance is the norm and the expectation is to leave cultures to live as they choose. This is a commendable concept and one that should be adhered to. However, tolerance and acceptance should not be blind to barbaric traditions like these. The battered woman described does not always have to be so. Her wounds will heal and she may begin to speak as she only dared to dream. Just as we involve ourselves in violations of human rights, we must deal with violation of women’s rights. They are not mutually exclusive. To be a woman is to be a member of the human race and no human deserves savagery reserved for these women.

Art is Dead

Over the evolution of man, art has always been inextricable from well, life. The glide toward the 21^st century marked the end of the passionate love affair between art’s expression and truth. Art is dead. This statement used callously by people to describe the absence of creativity in art from the recent years has never rung so true. Slowly the sacred connection between man and creation became cheapened and commercialized. No doubt that some artists, musicians, play writes, directors, and actors are truly in it for the creation of something special; but now the majority no longer have stars and ideals in their eyes because they were replaced with dollar signs. I could show you several examples in all genres for arts tarnished shine, that span over half a century but I’ll just focus on this last decade

In this century art is less about expression and more about pure shock. To the side is a painting by Dale Frank. What is this? My three year old sister made a painting just like this. How is this art? Sure it’s colors on a page so it is by definition “art”. But how is it true? What is to learn from this? What is expressed? How are you supposed to get some sort of insight that real art gives without totally making it up. Don’t get me wrong there are some beautiful and interesting pieces in modern art; the bulk of it though just seems empty. How is a pile of glued soda cans going to leave a little mark on someone’s soul? Van Gough’s “Starry Night” has left an impact on the generations that followed its inception. That is art. But like Van Gough it has gone a little nuts.

Music is another form of art that has been around since the dawn of man. Before we had linguistics mastered we were very adept at creating audio art. Music has been in constant evolution all over the planet: different style for every time and place. It has the strange ability to connect people and touch them in ways that written language can’t convey. Those songs from our childhood that makes us cry, a symphony that conveys life, notes that bring us to our feet. These all still exists but music and musicians as a whole have sold their souls. Music has become not about affecting people in a powerful way but having the most zero’s behind that five that you possibly can.

Exhibit A: the Miley Cyrus and Hannah Montana regime. It’s not about her music (which is excruciating) but how many things you can plaster her plastic face on. Exhibit B: Paris Hilton. She has a CD. Yep that tone deaf shrew was paid to wail like a dying animal. Oh and trust me she was paid well. Exhibit C: Justin Bieber. He breathes; that should be a capital offense. Every single one of his songs can be construed as an innuendo . . . Exhibit Q: Britney Spears. This washed up has been is still trying to make music. Not that she ever did. Her shrieky, needy, tunes somehow made her one of the biggest names in the biz. ATTENTION REAL TALENT PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, GO FOR A REACORD DEAL. My ears need a break.

Film, art’s most recent spawn, was once true to the creative creed but now the ones most widely appreciated are created on the foundation of making money. There are some great films out there. I am an avid movie go-er but the standard is precariously low. Some ideas that should never be uttered aloud are being produced. Like “Tip Toes,” a movie created with no comprehensible theme, plot, or poster. (See Cracked’s article “The Stupidest Movie Premise Ever”)There are some powerful films overshadowed by their steroid taking big brothers. IE: X-Men 3, Shark Boy and Lava Girl, Pinocchio (Live, Italian version) etc.

Our consumerist larger than life society can’t sustain art and its harsh truth. Sometimes though we see little glimmers of real art trying to break through the conformity holding it back. Maybe art is not dead; just gone. It can’t survive in the spotlight but is survived by the youth. Johnny playing in the basement, Rita dancing out her feelings, the raw emotion in their personal art, and the Podunk films; this is the art of our generation. Art lives on in our hearts as we all find ways to express it. I urge you all bored enough that you’re reading this to create, teach, and live in the way you only can with art. Make your mark with your truth.

This Blog

Alright I'm bored. I admit it. I don't really get to honor my Wilde nature, society tends to frown on anything "deviant". But Dammit! I will say what I think. I refuse to mitigate my opinions and feelings any longer. I'm tenacious, pugnacious, and vivacious; I will not be contained!
So welcome to my mind. I would give you a tour but we are currently under construction and poking around in this disaster zone is dangerous. There are no emergency exits that I know of (I would have used one by now) and I am not liable for any injuries obtained while you are here. Enjoy the organized chaos.