A couple times, long before Trump became president elect, people (aka Cousin Evie) asked me to keep ugly politics (and bad language) out of my blog and off my Facebook page.
“Facebook is supposed to be friendly and folksy, I wish you’d stop with all this political hogwash.“
With the country protesting the sexual predator-elect nationwide, and writers and bloggers flooding the internet, newspapers, and media with opinions of what this means and why it matters, the following Instagram posts are perfect examples of why the two are inseparable.
As seen on my favorite “writer who draws” Austin Kleon’s, Instagram feed. (You may know his fanfriggintastic little book, Steal Like An Artist, my favorite gift to give).
Apparently one of his fans does not appreciate his political commentary, which I did not read or see, because that’s not the point.
Kleon: “Nope. Sorry, bub. Not this week.”
Best answer ever. Except maybe “baby koalas.*
Don’t censor the artist in times of pain, grief, chaos, or turmoil.
In fact, don’t censor them. Ever. Just don’t.
Artists are beacons who lead us into realizations there just might be other points of view, other vantage points, dark shadows revealed, alternate words not yet spoken, quiet voices amplified. Perhaps they might be considered if people knew they existed.
Or not.
That’s up to the viewer, the observer, the reader, the listener.
That’s up to you.
The artist puts it out there. It’s our job to take it in.
The artist might make us uncomfortable to try and make sense of what is happening in the world around us. Or behind closed doors. Or in the Washington DC.
Beautiful or painful. Peaceful or volatile. Politics or personal. Politics are personal. Or else none of us would care.
Don’t tell an artist to be quiet. Don’t tell them to be careful. Don’t tell them to get back to normal.
They create normal. Normal for somebody.
Maybe not you.
But somebody.
If what you’re seeing is not the language you speak, look for an interpreter. Maybe it’s not what happens in your world, but it happens in somebody’s, or else it would not be there.
It would not be art.
Art heals. Art angers. Art forgives.
Art does not forget. It is a living breathing artifact of that moment in time.
Don’t ask artists to silence their remarkable talent to create what makes people feel.
Just don’t.
Sidebar: *My new best answer to naysayers, hater, or troll is now “baby koalas.” Here’s why:
Or maybe the response is “maybe not you, not now. But it may be, someday.” Think of the bravery of all the artists and performers (I am thinking now of Pussy Riot, for one) who have gone to jail (or worse) for their beliefs. Our comedians, especially, seem to be filling the role of National Conscious more than ever.
Agree. Did you see Stephen Colbert’s monologue post-elect? Gotta find that and give it a share. Thx for the read and generous comment!