A Poet's Fame (part 1)

What compels or motivates the artist? In that case, what is it that makes an artist? Is it simply a strange, impulsive combination of imagination and creation? Can the creator still be considered an artist if, (or when), they gain money and notoriety? Some would consider the words 'artist' and 'career' a contradiction in terms, as if it's unnatural. All of these questions simply prove that the artist is an odd job at best. It normally isn't considered to be hard work in terms of a blue collar job that is physically straining; not that the artist doesn't get their hands dirty, the job itself just appears to be fluff work in comparison.

An occupation in the arts is a risky one and full of pitfalls because one can only advance as far as their talent allows, and humans are easy prey to their delusions. It is a path much easier walked by an artisan of little integrity or scruple. All artists need some form of solitude, (and being trapped with one's self can be dangerous), while appearing to embrace a self-serving, almost selfish ideal, but this is a necessity. In order to be successful, or at least stand out above the rest, they have to have a me-against-the-world mentality in order to suffer through the barrage of critics, competition, doubters, and other assorted dream crushers.

I believe that people who create good art are naturally bestowed a great honor. Their work has been accepted by the public eye as superior, (not that the public always knows best), and they are able to make a living by transforming nothing into something. Oscar Wilde once said, "All art is quite useless," and this is true in that it serves no practical purpose to society, at least bad art doesn't. Good art can have several purposes. It can help to make sense of the world around you, it can add meaning to life, or say something in a way that you may not be able to express. It entertains, informs, and serves as a beautiful distraction. Imagine a world without art; no paintings, drawings, fictional literature, music, movies, TV, sculpture, theater, dancing, nothing. The world would be unbearable.