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January 12, 2015
The "Creative" Artist
This is quite a late preoccupation in our culture, and dates only from the 18th century Romantic movement. Oddly enough, great artists themselves don’t subscribe to it. They often refer to the writing coming from outside themselves, as they as mere transcribers. In the time of Homer, and for much later, the artist was relatively unimportant compared to the work he created. ... For all we know Homer might be a generic term, or the name of an untalented ancient performer which happened to be preserved. But we want it to be the name of a great poet, and so, in Jackson Knight’s books and in countless others, we pursue him in the poems he left behind.But we can’t pin him down. He may have lived in the lands of Sumer, been a Hurrian or a man of Thessaly, born before the time of cities or of the generation immediately before that of Eratosthenes. We can’t know, because we can’t tell when the excellence of the poems began. And we don’t know if ‘Homer’ was the source of it. The author may have been composite, as the author of a play or film is today. The poems though still tell a good story.The last minstrel | BestQuest
Posted by gerardvanderleun at January 12, 2015 5:23 PM. This is an entry on the sideblog of American Digest: Check it out.
Your Say
As an illustrator and author I can definitely attest this is true. Its about the work, not the creator. We are involved and we do work, but we don't want praise for US, we want praise for the work. Its our baby, its our pride and joy. Almost no author I know of is anything but a humble introvert, wanting not fame but success. Its just that the wild creative self destroyer and partier gets all the press and notice because we left the party early to go back to work writing.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://americandigest.org/sidelines/nav-commenters.gif)
at January 13, 2015 8:05 AM
Looks like a NAMBLA poster.
Posted by: Vermont Woodchuck at January 13, 2015 3:11 PM
" They often refer to the writing coming from outside themselves, as they as mere transcribers. In the time of Homer, and for much later, the artist was relatively unimportant compared to the work he created."
"Its about the work, not the creator."
Agreed.
Not all things I see, or read, or listen to stirs a response from within. But if its moving and sincere... something that was given to me (or us) in a raw heart felt way, it stirs a response with in me.
What shape it will take, I have no idea as it is wholly dependent on what I received from the conveyance. For me, the 'cookie' is the laugh within as I chuckle to myself thinking "oh... s(he)'s gonna looooove this.... and perhaps its also a thank you to the writer/gallery-steward/artist who offered me such a fine 'meal'.
It certainly made the Grave-yard shift I was on for so many years, such a fine place to be.
---
When last comes to last,
I have little power:
I am merely an urn.
I hold the bone-sap of myself,
And watch the marrow burn.
When last comes to last,
I have little strength:
I am only a tool.
I work its work; and in its hands
I am the fool.
When last comes to last,
I have little life.
I am simply a deed:
an action done while courage holds;
a seed.
--Stephen R. Donaldson, 1977
---
Thanks for all the good times, Gerard. I've really had a blast getting to know you and others like you over that last... untold years.
Cond0011
Posted by: cond0011 at January 13, 2015 6:26 PM
Sometimes it is better just to eat the soup, and not stir it.
Posted by: chasmatic at January 13, 2015 10:38 PM