The art of discomfort | Leigh Bardugo | TEDxUCDavis

Summary

In this insightful talk, the speaker explores the myths surrounding the creative process, especially the misconception that art should come effortlessly. Reflecting on their own journey, they argue that discomfort is an essential and often overlooked part of creating meaningful art. Through personal anecdotes and cultural critique, the speaker encourages artists to embrace discomfort as a powerful tool for growth and innovation. By challenging the idealized portrayals of art in media and social media, they emphasize the importance of revision, perseverance, and staying in love with the process to ultimately create extraordinary work.

Takeaways

• 😀 Embrace discomfort as an essential part of the creative process—it signals growth and progress in art.
• 😀 Art is iterative: great works of art come from continuous revision, not from perfect first drafts.
• 😀 The myth of effortless creativity, often seen in movies and social media, distorts the reality of the artistic journey.
• 😀 Comparing your early drafts to finished works of admired artists often leads to discouragement. First drafts are not meant to be perfect.
• 😀 Discomfort is not a warning to stop; it’s a compass that points toward deeper, more meaningful work.
• 😀 The romance of the big idea is a myth—successful art comes from dedication and perseverance, not just an initial spark.
• 😀 The process of creating art involves facing challenges, not just meeting goals. Creativity thrives in the unknown and the uncomfortable.
• 😀 Creativity requires embracing uncertainty and living with the discomfort of not knowing the outcome.
• 😀 Cultural portrayals of artists often skip over the hard, uncomfortable work that goes into creating, leaving aspiring artists with unrealistic expectations.
• 😀 The discomfort that artists feel when working through difficult projects is a sign of transformation and growth, not failure.
• 😀 To be a professional artist, you must learn to welcome discomfort and rejection, even on the bad days, because those are the moments of true artistic growth.

Q & A

What is the main argument of the speaker regarding why many aspiring artists fail to finish their work?

The speaker argues that many artists fail because they don't understand or embrace the discomfort that is part of the creative process. Instead of accepting discomfort, which leads to growth and progress, many artists give up or avoid it, leading to unfinished projects.

How does the speaker describe discomfort in the creative process?

The speaker distinguishes between 'bad discomfort' and 'good discomfort.' While bad discomfort signals danger or negative situations, good discomfort occurs when artists challenge themselves and step into the unknown, which is essential for creativity and artistic growth.

What role does the media play in shaping misconceptions about creativity?

The media, particularly movies and social media, portray the creative process as quick and effortless, often skipping over the hard work, mistakes, and discomfort that come with making art. This distorted representation leads to unrealistic expectations for aspiring artists.

What is the significance of the 'montage' in media depictions of creativity?

The 'montage' in movies and social media condenses the lengthy and difficult process of creating art into a few seconds, erasing the real struggles, failures, and revisions. This creates a false image of how easy and immediate art-making should feel.

What does the speaker mean by 'art is iterative'?

The speaker means that art is a process of constant revision. Great works of art are not created in one or two drafts but evolve through many rounds of editing, experimentation, and refinement.

What is the second myth the speaker addresses about creativity?

The second myth the speaker addresses is the 'romance of the big idea.' Many people believe that great art begins with a sudden, brilliant idea. However, the speaker explains that art is about sticking with an idea and refining it over time, not just falling in love with it initially.

What advice does the speaker give about working with ideas?

The speaker advises that artists should focus not just on the initial idea but on staying with it over time, asking many questions and pushing through moments of discomfort. It’s the perseverance with an idea, not the initial spark, that leads to successful art.

What does the speaker mean by 'good discomfort'?

Good discomfort is the feeling of uncertainty and challenge that comes when artists are pushing themselves beyond their comfort zone. It’s the discomfort that signals growth and the possibility of creating something new, as opposed to 'bad discomfort,' which feels harmful or toxic.

How does the speaker suggest we rewire our understanding of discomfort?

The speaker suggests that instead of seeing discomfort as something to avoid, artists should embrace it as a tool that guides them toward deeper creativity. Discomfort should be seen as a compass that points toward greater challenges and rewards in the creative process.

How does the speaker's own experience with 'Six of Crows' illustrate the value of discomfort?

The speaker shares her experience of writing 'Six of Crows,' which was her first book sold on proposal. Despite the discomfort and fear she felt while writing it, she persevered. That book, which pushed her through many challenges, ended up being highly successful and transformative for her career.