Get Serious About Play
Interviewing the Wild Artist Within
Why is it so difficult to take my artistic practice seriously? Because our brains are hardwired to do what’s comfortable and habitual. The problem is sometimes the habit is avoidance.
But why am I avoiding what I love? Why am I avoiding what keeps me sane? Why don’t I feel like I deserve to spend time writing, or dancing, or drawing, or—Do you find yourself devaluing it because it isn’t making you money?
Well, yeah. I have to pay rent. So show yourself some grace, then. You live in a capitalistic society, and being an artist requires time to do nothing, time to daydream, and time to imagine. Working-class artists are often forced to consider how to market and make money before they can even scheme or stretch their creative muscles.
This isn’t helping me solve the problem. Well, have you tried gaslighting yourself?
Haha, but we both know that’s not healthy. I kid, I kid. But you can play a little Jedi mind trick where you imagine rebelling against an imperialistic empire by hijacking your time back from the grips of the ruling class.
I like playing pretend. Well, if you’re setting aside time to habitually make art, AND you happen to be a deeply political person with your eyes on the prize of liberation, then is it pretend?
You’re on to something. The desire to be an artist despite a treacherous economic landscape threatens the status quo. How dare you labor out of a longing to create meaning from the madness? How dare you get paid to question authority or remain curious in a system that would instead have you anxious and in constant despair?
I’m making worlds. This is serious business.
Prompt (if you so choose to accept it)
Write about why you’re “serious about play.” What aspects of the artistic process are playful in nature and why are they actually quite dangerous?