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I appreciate Josh's encouragement to artists to elevate themselves out of the confines of a cultural group classification. In a way, I've tried to do this, but after seeing it spelled out, I think I'm still reflecting something about my group status.
Although - I don't think it's anger like Josh insinuates - it's more of an outlet of my fear, panic, love and exhaustion that comes with my day-to-day life. Maybe it is anger?
I guess my question is, Where do you begin if you're not drawing from this resource for inspiration?
Is it possible to create based on personal experiences without boxing yourself in to your own cultural group?
- Kristin (7/26/2005 6:59:25 PM)
I have often felt, especially lately,that the use of anger or rage in fueling the creative spark is a dangerous proposition. It can and does lead to passionate expression, however tends to eventually lose to maturity. Also, it is overdone and unoriginal. - Eminem please take note!! How 'bout being utterly pissed off at something or someone and writing a tune, or painting a picture about trying to find peace.
- Mark (7/27/2005 10:14:09 AM)
Allow me to be stereotypically angry for a second. I think Josh is kinda full of it and here's why:First, he scales down the process/experience of "minority" artists to one singular (and stereotypical) emotion--anger, thus, obscuring the greater complexity of the majority of the work that's out there. Sure,art is about getting to the human, universal truthsthat lie within us all. And anyone who's read Junot Diaz or Toni Cade Bambara can see that most "minority" artists do this throughthe telling of a singular experience that reveals bothin its difference and complexity, a new expression ofa universal truth. I could sit down and try towrite a "universal" work, but would get essentially nowhere. Why, cause because my experience as minority in America isn't, as Josh points out, a typically universal experience (whatever that is) and in trying to create that, I would lose theessential parts that make my work both powerful, truthful,and yes, subjective.I'm glad Josh has worked through his own self-hatred, but I find his discussion of in-group anger really surface. Our so-called anger, even at ridiculous blanket statements like these, is just the entry point where the real work begins. Alas, but Josh's not a "minority" writer, so I wouldn't expect him to know that...
- Tracey (8/1/2005 11:17:31 AM)
I strongly disagree to this article. Art can be healing for your so-called minorities. The term minority in and of itself is part of the experience of being disenfranchised and not represented. Art provides a form of discourse for groups who deal with these everyday realities. You claim not to define yourself by abstract notions, but the definition you use to define art is just that. Art is human and anger that your minorities feel and express is human. Why does anger have to transcend to have a happy ending? You seem to imply anger in and of itself is not valid. All anger comes from somewhere and points to problems and gives perspective. Do not underestimate anger. Anger has "inspired" much political and progressive action and, yes, art. It's weird, this backlash that "minority" artists face. You're jealous of my/our pain but now console yourself against it's powerful expression because your art is better because it transcends our anger? Weird, weird, weird.
- aluv (8/17/2005 3:27:37 PM)
I disagree with the opinions within this article. As an African American Female Artist I don't consider myself as an angry artist who is confining herself in some cultural group classification. Why do I, as a black artist, have to conform to this society's idea of what my interpretation of art should be in order to be a successful artist? In that respect, if I were angry, my anger would be justified.Black people, as well as the Jewish people should never forget our history. We as black artists use our experiences and our history as a way to teach our own as well as others through our artistic expression. It is something that we relate to and face every day. That is why rap and hip-hop is such a powerful and successful form of expression. So much so that it is enjoyed by people of every race, not to mention that it is now being over commercialized in the media.Insinuating comments such as Josh's is just another reminder of the type of society we live in.
- Far'aasha (11/21/2005 2:11:28 AM)
i feel the same ,but i use that anger to make my art speak out to others .
- porque in texas (1/29/2006 2:02:18 AM)
This is an insult to minorites. Okay this is how you felt all those years well sorry to say in my family we are minorites and most of them are great artist who don't use culture as artwork. End of story I think it speaks for itself.
- Esther (2/20/2006 9:12:56 PM)
i find it hard to listen to any human who can think and believe that the only "true source of inspiration" lies above any kind of social or individual identitity- these hacks and hasbeens you speak of, who define themselves with anger or background are drawing on one of the most important inspirations; human experience. I'm glad Josh can transcend his own painful experiences to an ethreal world of true inspiration, but personally, I accept the company of my fellow hacks and embrace my individual, sometimes angry, identity.
- LF (3/12/2006 11:06:31 PM)
josh i live in nyc and its just artist.Some understand it and some use it as identiy and yes it can hold a person back from amazing growth into something else. But please don't feel sorry cultural group.offer your help and understanding and you will truly understand why they feel that way. Help them to and yourself...love!!!
- yokie (8/28/2006 9:40:38 PM)
Josh, Josh, Josh. I see a lot of anger in this little piece; it seems as if your identity as a white man is really limiting you. Yes, I'm sorry that you can write about anything you want, whereas "minorities" can only write or produce art about their self identities-- it must be so difficult, nay, paralyzing, to have so many different topics to choose from! Perhaps you should join a support group for white people who feel a need to reinforce their cultural dominance by dissing on people with pigment. Oh yeah, I think that group is called the "Majority."Honestly, this is not just an insult to "minorities," whatever that even means. This is also an insult to some of those middle-class white kids who grow up trying to avoid and attack those racist beliefs that have been fed to them from a system based on centuries of exploitation and "othering."My condolences, Josh. It's a shame you will never get anything out of a Spike Lee film, appreciate any Maxine Hong Kingston literature, or derive any pleasure from looking at an Andy Warhol (after all, he was GAY, you know!).In the end, though, I'm surprised I've taken the time to comment on a piece by a self-proclaimed writer whose use of punctuation is patchy and whose metaphors are maudlin. I hope you find an editor to help you dig out that crusty old diamond of yours.with love and kisses,from someone who's lucky enough to have sarcasm as a resource for dealing with this kind of racist drivel.P.S. Take a deep breath, transcend that anger that's eating you up, relax the fists that have been clenching as you've read my "petty," "moronic," "what's-she-trying-to-prove," "probably-written-by-a-minority" comments. Then get out a dictionary. Morays are eels, Josh. Look it up.
- a hack and a has-been (10/8/2006 10:58:45 PM)
why are you thinking about this? Its moronic, just do you work, look at life around you and write about it. To paraphrase Popeye, "you am what you am".
- ted stanuga, painter (12/12/2006 9:04:48 AM)
I want pussy
- cooch (3/26/2007 3:10:24 PM)
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