Saturday, February 9, 2013

Originality and Art

I thought I would talk about a few subjects that over the last few weeks of class we have discussed and  I've realized are very closely related. I've recently started to see just how many aspects of the class are so intertwined with each other as well as my own life. Namely, the subjects of art and originality. Many students have already talked about how nothing is original and everything we are and everything we do is just a repetition, perpetuating what has already been done. As a film major this is something that I've had to come to terms with recently. Anybody who endeavors to do anything creative has to face the reality that in some form its been done before. How can I create, say, think, do, anything new? That is a heavy thought that can be kind of demoralizing. But actually It's kind of encouraging. It is most important to make something, truthful, and beautiful. Less imperative is originality. While reading Metamorphoses I began thinking about originality in the realm of art and literature. In a sense, unoriginality is what makes art and literature so valuable. It reaches through time and space and says "hey you are not alone",these challenges have been faced before, people have felt what you are feeling.   There is something really beautiful about that. Being original means you are alone, and as i said in my last post, that is not something humans are meant to be.