Shahram Chaudhry
Based on my experience of completing assignments for this class, I agree with the author’s perspective that unfinished work often holds an allure, as we imagine the possibility of achieving better results. However, amidst this uncertainty, it is crucial to discover a personal motivation or spark that drives us to create, even when there is no external audience or reward. The author also emphasizes the importance of not subscribing to the notion that artistic talent is solely innate, as it can discourage creativity. Ultimately, talent becomes indistinguishable from hard work and perseverance in the long run. As an example, I may not possess the same level of intelligence as my twin brother, but through my dedication and effort, I often achieve similar or even better outcomes. In other words, art is created by ordinary people. Our flaws and weaknesses, though they can pose challenges in completing our work, can also serve as sources of strength. For instance, I have a friend who procrastinates a lot and completes assignments just before the deadline, even if he has ample time. While this approach may seem risky, his ability to work well under pressure turns this shortcoming into an advantage, enabling him to finish the same assignment in less time and allowing him to allocate more time to other tasks.
The author also raises a significant point that I initially disagreed with but now find compelling. They argue that even cavemen were creating art before they were consciously aware of the concept of self. Therefore, the belief that art is purely a means of self-expression is inherently biased. Another flaw in associating artists solely with their art is that it implies that flawed art reflects a flawed individual, while the absence of art renders one devoid of personhood. Instead of adhering to this ideology, one should embark on a personal journey to discover their unique approach to creating art.