Bonfire Of The Vanities

A friend sent me an article from the local newspaper, which speculated that anger was the proper fuel for art. To support his theory, the writer, David Stabler gave three examples of artists famous for their flashes of visionary fire though it alienated those around them: Adrienne Rich, a poet, Steve Jobs, the technology genius and Mark Rothko, the painter.

                                  

(courtesy: securesigningservice.com)

          “What must it take to create a singular vision and believe in it so absolutely that you can change the world?…To overcome inertia takes tremendous energy.”(“Anger: fuel for art?” David Stabler, The Oregonian, 4/15, 2012)

I agree that inspiration needs passion. And I also agree with Adrienne Rich when she said, “Art means nothing if it simply decorates the dinner table…” (Stabler)

But I’m uncertain about anger’s role in art. For one thing, passion is energy. It is not vision. What’s more the purpose of art is to create. Anger too often destroys.

If any emotion is to be blamed for art, it is hubris — that god-like desire to create something out of nothing. And while passion may be the spark, reason is the true handmaiden for art is never random — though it may appear so — and always contemplative. To control any of its media premeditation and perspective are required.

Virtual book tour Day 3: Peggy Ma. @ Book Absorption