Most of the time, crying has the unfortunate association with sadness. Whenever we see someone cry, it is automatic to assume the worst kind of tragedy. Certainly though, this is not always the case. Crying is the ultimate feeling of empathy. We cry when we are emotionally affected, out of sadness, joy, relief, and so on. It is not a bad thing to cry; rather, it is quite the opposite.
As one half the theater masks, sock and buskin, the Greek concept of catharsis describes the restoring feeling of emotional release. Crying is the purest form of catharsis. I like to think we are slowly acquiring emotions over time. When we cry, we are releasing this pent-up level of emotion--good or bad--in an effort to feel better. This feeling better is a return to emotional normalcy.
For me personally, I do not feel ashamed of crying, even if I do not make a show of it. To me, crying at an art form is commonly a sign of quality. If I feel that emotional tug, it means I am connected to the characters, the setting, or the events. If I am watching a sitcom, for example, and I get choked up when two of the characters get married--not an unhappy event--it means the show was successful at connecting me to the characters. The show was able to make them feel more real, more like people. Crying is a validation of these emotions.
Stepping out of the realm of art for a second, of course, we have to cry in our real lives as well. Some events, both happy and sad, are powerful enough to lead us to a state of crying. It is just as much of a release for true events in our lives as it is for fabricated events in fiction. While we accuse people unable of crying as emotionless robots, not crying is not an immediate sign of sociopathy. Instead, some people may be capable of carrying more emotion internally.
It is unfortunate we so often associate crying with sadness. It is perhaps more unfortunate that we generally perceive crying as a sign of weakness. We all build up emotion, and we all deserve the right to release through the comfort of tears.
Wednesday, May 23, 2018
Thursday, May 17, 2018
Isolation: A Weird Heat Companion
As my previous few pieces on different concepts have evolved, the prevailing theme which continually bubbles up is how those concepts affect the creative process. So now, I am looking at how isolation fits into this creative mold.
Human beings are, by nature, social animals. We like being around others. We like sharing experiences. We like building connections. In fact, at nearly every stage of our lives, finding friends or a partner is a primary goal. There is a sense of comfort in surrounding ourselves with friends and family.
But at times, being alone is just as important. When we are alone with nothing but our thoughts, we are free to explore new ideas. Being alone also allows a person to fully be themselves. You do not need to affect a personality or sensibility to match up with another person. This independence can be highly important to the creative process. By not having a social connection present, we do not have to perform and can behave how we like.
The other important part of isolation is that it is an inherently judgement-free space to work. The only criticism you have when you are alone is, of course, yourself. This means you are free to work on something to the exact specifications you desire. At the same time, however, isolation can lead to reluctance when it finally comes time to share your creativity with others. Dare I say, isolation can become insulation?...
Everyone’s definition of isolation is a bit different. When I am alone, I like to surround myself with a lot--music, a book, a game, my laptop. In effect, this raises the question of whether or not I truly am isolated. Sure, I may be isolated from people in the same physical space, but I may not be separated from connection at any time. In such a case, isolation has become harder to achieve as technology advances. This form of pseudo-isolation also influences thoughts and ideas in other ways than if we were totally alone. Despite this exterior influence, however, it is the type of isolation that best helps my work.
To each their own, your sense of isolation is what you make of it. We shape our quiet moments of aloneness in the ways to work best for us. Even though most people primarily require human contact, it is difficult to deny the importance of solitude. Some of our most creative output can come from reflective moments in isolation.
Human beings are, by nature, social animals. We like being around others. We like sharing experiences. We like building connections. In fact, at nearly every stage of our lives, finding friends or a partner is a primary goal. There is a sense of comfort in surrounding ourselves with friends and family.
But at times, being alone is just as important. When we are alone with nothing but our thoughts, we are free to explore new ideas. Being alone also allows a person to fully be themselves. You do not need to affect a personality or sensibility to match up with another person. This independence can be highly important to the creative process. By not having a social connection present, we do not have to perform and can behave how we like.
The other important part of isolation is that it is an inherently judgement-free space to work. The only criticism you have when you are alone is, of course, yourself. This means you are free to work on something to the exact specifications you desire. At the same time, however, isolation can lead to reluctance when it finally comes time to share your creativity with others. Dare I say, isolation can become insulation?...
Everyone’s definition of isolation is a bit different. When I am alone, I like to surround myself with a lot--music, a book, a game, my laptop. In effect, this raises the question of whether or not I truly am isolated. Sure, I may be isolated from people in the same physical space, but I may not be separated from connection at any time. In such a case, isolation has become harder to achieve as technology advances. This form of pseudo-isolation also influences thoughts and ideas in other ways than if we were totally alone. Despite this exterior influence, however, it is the type of isolation that best helps my work.
To each their own, your sense of isolation is what you make of it. We shape our quiet moments of aloneness in the ways to work best for us. Even though most people primarily require human contact, it is difficult to deny the importance of solitude. Some of our most creative output can come from reflective moments in isolation.
Wednesday, May 9, 2018
Pride: A Weird Heat Companion
Pride has the distinction of being the only deadly sin that can also be an admirable quality. Of course, it can easily be taken too far. It may not necessarily be admirable to aggressively and boastfully display pride. It is nice, though, to take pride in hard work. Therefore, it is the only deadly sin with a nugget of goodness. This discrepancy is hard to unpack.
Let’s look at a few of the other prime sins. Nothing positive can come from a little bit of wrath; severe anger quickly sets a person down a destructive path. Overt greediness leads to one taking more than they deserve. So too does gluttony, in addition to making one obese and unpleasant. Pride, on the other hand, has some advantages (in moderation). This is what makes pride so complex.
Few statements are more rewarding to hear than, “I’m proud of you.” It is a warm and comforting sentence. It means you have done something good, something worthwhile. When others have pride in something you have done, it means they happily associate with you or your accomplishments.
It is a combination of self-pride and that expressed by others that drives the creative process. Pride is a major part of expression. If an artist or creator did not feel pride at least once over the course of the creation, the project would never be complete. And if there was not a sense of pride at this completion, the person would never begin something new. It is a prime motivator.
It starts to fall apart when pride leads to arrogance and conceit. As good as it is for others to have pride in you, this can quickly lead to an over-inflated ego. Too much pride is at the root of any instance of a God complex. It is easy for pride to infect a person and make them think they are better than others.
Essentially, the opposite of pride is humility. Even a hint of pride should be accompanied by a healthy dose of humility. Possessing a humble nature can counteract pride and turn it into a strength. It can prevent a person from feeling more important unnecessarily than others.
So pride is good--to a point. The difference, then, seems to be a bit of self-pride is good if effort merits the feeling. Similarly, when people feel proud of someone, this is validated when work has been done to deserve that pride. It’s when pride leads to an over-inflated ego that it begins to be a problem.
Let’s look at a few of the other prime sins. Nothing positive can come from a little bit of wrath; severe anger quickly sets a person down a destructive path. Overt greediness leads to one taking more than they deserve. So too does gluttony, in addition to making one obese and unpleasant. Pride, on the other hand, has some advantages (in moderation). This is what makes pride so complex.
Few statements are more rewarding to hear than, “I’m proud of you.” It is a warm and comforting sentence. It means you have done something good, something worthwhile. When others have pride in something you have done, it means they happily associate with you or your accomplishments.
It is a combination of self-pride and that expressed by others that drives the creative process. Pride is a major part of expression. If an artist or creator did not feel pride at least once over the course of the creation, the project would never be complete. And if there was not a sense of pride at this completion, the person would never begin something new. It is a prime motivator.
It starts to fall apart when pride leads to arrogance and conceit. As good as it is for others to have pride in you, this can quickly lead to an over-inflated ego. Too much pride is at the root of any instance of a God complex. It is easy for pride to infect a person and make them think they are better than others.
Essentially, the opposite of pride is humility. Even a hint of pride should be accompanied by a healthy dose of humility. Possessing a humble nature can counteract pride and turn it into a strength. It can prevent a person from feeling more important unnecessarily than others.
So pride is good--to a point. The difference, then, seems to be a bit of self-pride is good if effort merits the feeling. Similarly, when people feel proud of someone, this is validated when work has been done to deserve that pride. It’s when pride leads to an over-inflated ego that it begins to be a problem.
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