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drugs: visual art versus audible art
Synchronicity:
--- Quote from: Aneurhythmia ---
--- Quote from: Synchronicity ---I can't say that I feel like taking drugs is "cheating" because I take ADD and anxiety meds and although they don't change my way of making art, they do give me new perspectives on the world. I wouldn't want to do [illigel] drugs no matter the reason...
--- End quote ---
There's a contradiction there. One could argue that these drugs giving you "new perspectives on the world" necessarily influences the way you make art. That said, while the effect is more pronounced, many "illegal" drugs bring about fundamentally similar alterations of perspective more than anything else.
--- End quote ---
I see what you're saying about the contradiction, and you really are right (I was literally half asleep when I wrote that and when I read it now I don't know what I was thinking.) Personally, I don't feel that my art has changed directly from being put on meds, but perhaps the changes that they have made in my life (like me having much more free time and being happier) have. It's hard to analyze one's own life.
Sckitzo:
Alot of good points in this thread, I honestly don't know how I feel about it one way or another but what did keep popping into my mind was maybe, alot of people who are the creators of audio art (and visual to a point) are more exposed to drugs, we all hear about the latest mainstream artist, or star getting busted for drug charges, and I'm sure we have all heard at least one person (Steve Tyler comes to mind for me) talk about how drugs were all around him when he started to come into his fame.
Not sure what I'm trying to say really, maybe its that alot of artists start using drugs becuase it is easy to get? Meh sounds sorta BS now but I know I had an idea in there :S
dancarter:
I may step on a few toes here, but two cents being what they are....
I get very suspicious of any type of performer or creative type who stakes their creativity on substance use and/or dependency. It seems like an out or an excuse in some senses. Again, that is only based on my own experiences and a certain reluctance in the belief that there is an outlet to plug into that lies beyond one's own creativity. It is a slippery slope that seems to be entirely transient. While in some cases, and often I think by mere chance, some interesting things can happen in the early stages of drug use and creativity, it eventually becomes in some cases a barrier to that creativity in the sense that there can often be a distinct lack of focus found in how that creativity is presented. Also, if you place your importance on the substance, how do you recapture that so called 'magic' beyond the use of those substances? This is where that dependency becomes a sort of crutch and eventually, more important than the work itself. Is that the difference between indulgence and abuse? I don't know.
Not even mentioning the side effects of course. For every Jerry Garcia there is a Hemingway. It's difficult call. I've spent two years now in art college with people who follow these lines of thinking as far as drugs go. I've seen some people produce some amazing and some horrible work and become complete basket cases in the process of following this. And that's not even trying to have a conversation about anything with these people. What I fear most is that the reputation and myth behind drugs and creativity is now more important than the reality of it. A lot like this prediliction toward this false romantic suffering that a lot of young people have in the creative community.
I'm certainly not dismissing drugs. I've done my fair share and do still occasionally, but never with a goal in mind. As I've gotten older, it has just become this idea that seems so incredibly counter-productive.
Sorry, bit of a rant.
Aneurhythmia:
Well, I think anybody that is going to become absolutely dependent on chemical alteration for their creative process is going to be prone to faulty art with or without the drugs anyway. It's going to be a function of their personality.
Drug use, like anything else in life, is an experience to be interpreted and assimilated. Drugs may garner a lot of attention because of the potency and novelty of the experience compared to many others and the general social taboo, but any experience and any personality trait may either help or hinder the creative process.
Also, I'm not sure about the Jerry Garcia-Hemingway dichotomy. I was under the impression that both are generally well-respected in their pursuits, but I don't know much about Jerry Garcia beyond common knowledge.
dancarter:
The Garcia/Hemingway comment was really meant in terms of end results. Garcia died relatively peacfully, although young whereas Hemingway shot his head off, attributed to the physical and psychological damage his lifestyle choices caused.
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