RKYV Column #7 - Creation In Our World: What Good Art Does

Hey gang! I hope no one missed reading this too much last month. I’m sorry to admit that January is not my favorite month of the year. It’s tradition that my mental health and relationships go to Hades for a brief fiasco and vacation, as well as my physical status. This year my back did not go out on me, which was a previous ailment – but I was sick for almost the full month. I still do not have a clear-cut reason for why this happened, so we’ll never know the reasons.

This was also the start of a new semester for me, which of course means pure chaos all around in terms of settling in and buying textbooks. Now that things are settling down, my classes are actually much more interesting on a personal level than last semester’s. Rather than taking basic classes that are prerequisites, I am able to take three English classes (on literature, journalism, and creative writing), a film studies, and another anthropology class in addition to last semester’s. It’s working out quite well for me. I have found myself back in touch with my inner muse after three months of being unable to produce much of anything. Having words near me constantly for English classes is doing me some good.

It’s also exposing me to some magnificent literary art forms. So of course I had to think, just what divides the art forms people like us create from the things we aspire to mimic and surpass?

To avoid going into a very deep essay, I think there are three very basic ideas behind “great art” that come off the top of a person’s head – and they are:

*Great art tugs your heart;
*Great art inspires others; and
*Great art transcends somehow in its simplicity.

This was an idea I had a long time ago – way back in August, when I was still exploring my college campus. I went inside one of the buildings to escape the heat and was lucky enough to catch one brave young man rehearsing in our music hall. I was incredibly moved by his voice and the song, a song about love.

See? A simple idea – a piano and a love song. This is a pretty basic and repeated thing. Yet this young man’s voice was able to stir tears in my eyes, and I went back to my room to write out my feelings as soon as I could form words to describe them.

Of course, there are other components to good art – and anyone who has ever taken a class focusing on it could probably rattle off the finer points. For our purposes, a three step check list is a good way to get started.

But why just rattle off a list?

This month is the start of a new idea. Rather than just preach about creating things, I figured I would share the inspiration I can find. Each month there will be an image posted under my column. It may be a photograph, it may be a poem, or it will be artwork. At first, I admit I’ll probably stick to personal photography. They will be good photos and will avoid any possible copyright issues, as long as no one tries selling the images of course.

I urge everyone each month to look over the image being shared and let some idea come to you. You don’t feel to make it a final idea, but how better to practice then, well, practice?

(Also – it will give everyone who takes part something to submit for the next month’s issue!)

This month’s image is:
http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a253/aniu15228/100_0414.jpg

So. Sit down, write a poem, write a story, paint a picture – come up with something new and original based on this, even if it’s just for practice to ease back into a routine. Stir up emotions in your words or colors. And through editing and changes, the other two should eventually follow.

I hope to see submissions based on this next month – because if I don’t this idea might not last long!

Best of luck,
-Larissa