this is why you make art

Summary

This video explores the profound and often misunderstood reasons behind why we create art. It delves into how art transcends talent and passion, revealing that it is a primal force tied to making meaning, challenging societal norms, and preserving fleeting moments. Artists reject the surface-level and dig deeper into their emotions and truths. The process of creation also acts as a form of time travel, preserving memories and connecting past, present, and future selves. Ultimately, art is a sacred act of self-expression, rebellion, and connection to something greater than oneself.

Takeaways

• 😀 You make art because something inside of you refuses to accept the surface-level experience of life, seeking deeper meaning and understanding.
• 😀 Artists dig into their emotions, mind, and soul to uncover truths that others avoid, pushing beyond comfort zones to explore life’s layers.
• 😀 Art serves as a means to create meaning in a random and chaotic world, transforming noise into music and pain into purpose.
• 😀 By creating, artists claim the power to make sense of life, finding purpose in a senseless universe by shaping their own meaning.
• 😀 Art allows individuals to rewrite the stories that society imposes on them, offering an opportunity to define themselves and their truths.
• 😀 Creating art is not just about self-expression, it’s an act of self-definition, challenging and reshaping beliefs imposed by the world.
• 😀 Artists rebel against time by capturing fleeting moments, preserving memories, and resisting the inevitable march of time that seeks to erase them.
• 😀 Art functions as a form of preservation, immortalizing significant moments and experiences to ensure they are not forgotten.
• 😀 Art offers a form of time travel, allowing artists to communicate across time, bridging the past, present, and future versions of themselves.
• 😀 Something sacred happens during the creative process, where artists experience flow, presence, and connection to something larger than themselves.

Q & A

Why do most people misunderstand why artists create?

Many people believe artists create because of talent, passion, or self-expression. However, the truth is that most artists create due to a primal, deeper force that drives them beyond fame or fulfillment, something more intrinsic and unexplainable.

What does the speaker mean by 'most people live their lives on autopilot'?

The speaker refers to how most people go through life without questioning or deeply examining their experiences. They simply follow routine tasks like waking up, working, scrolling through social media, and sleeping without looking beyond the surface of life.

How do artists differ from others in terms of perception of the world?

Artists refuse to accept the world at face value. They constantly seek meaning, texture, and understanding, digging deeper into emotions, thoughts, and souls. Unlike most people, they explore the layers of life that others avoid.

What does the speaker mean by 'art is how you reach the layers of life that most people avoid'?

The speaker suggests that art enables individuals to explore the deeper, often uncomfortable parts of life. It allows artists to address emotions, truths, and complexities that most people avoid confronting in their everyday lives.

What is the connection between art and meaning-making?

Art helps create meaning in a world that often feels random or chaotic. Artists transform the randomness of the universe into something purposeful, creating meaning out of noise, pain, or even mundane moments.

How does the concept of 'self-definition' relate to art?

Art allows individuals to define themselves. Instead of accepting the labels and narratives imposed by society, artists rewrite their own story through creation. Art serves as a tool for self-expression and personal truth.

Why does the speaker encourage artists to create something that transforms a lie into a truth?

The speaker challenges artists to confront the false beliefs or labels imposed on them by society. By creating something meaningful, they can transform these imposed truths into their own authentic narrative, empowering themselves in the process.

What is the relationship between time and art, according to the speaker?

Art is seen as a rebellion against time. As time steals moments, memories, and people, art serves as a way to preserve fleeting experiences and capture moments that would otherwise be lost, making them eternal.

How does art act as a form of time travel?

Art enables individuals to communicate across time. It connects the present with the past, allowing artists to honor their former selves, document their current lives, and even send messages to their future selves.

What does the speaker mean by 'something sacred happens when you create'?

The speaker refers to the flow state, where artists lose track of time and feel a deep connection to something larger than themselves while creating. This process brings a sense of presence, allowing artists to reconnect with their true selves.