art, creativity and consciousness

[absentmindfulness]

I've noticed many creative people and a few artists among these forums, and I was wondering if any of you could help me with a dilemma I'm currently having.

I'm an artistic individual, and have been over the past year been getting back in touch with my creativity through outlets such as drawing, writing and music. I would very much like to pursue one of these as a career, and if I had to choose one it would probably be visual art, with writing in close second. Ideally a combination of the two.

However, something about being an artist or creative writer feels like it conflicts with the idea of being a conscious human being. I've found that many of my favourite artists have a different approach to creativity than Steve Pavlina. These include filmmakers and writers such as Allan Moore, the Coen Brothers and Terry Gilliam who I would label as deconstructionists, and my dilemma is how to reconcile my love for their art with a positive attitude toward life. Much art explores the dark side of humanity which I personally find fascinating. Is it morally sound to explore negativity for the sake of creating good, meaningful art? Is it in the interest of human consciousness to expose yourself to material and situations that temporarily lower your own consciousness?

[taylor]

I've gotten a lot of criticism on this forum for posting a lot about the David Hawkins map of consciousness and I've separated music and films into categories of positive vs. negative. This sounds too much like good vs. evil to people I guess. Hawkins writes in his book Power vs. Force about how every work of art gives off an energy that influences those who are exposed to it. Consistent exposure to very low work can do spiritual damage to you. Consistent exposure to very high work can improve your spiritual sensitivity. Art is powerful even on a purely energetic level.

Nowadays the trend is to move towards the darker energies. Look at films for example. It's a lot easier to make a dark film that is popular than it is to make a positive work which often comes out as preachy, cheesy, sappy or pretentious. Whereas if you go very negative it's seen as gritty, edgy, realistic, and more importantly it sells. Thank goodness for comedies which are an easy-to-pull-off marketable very positive genre.

What to do as a creative person. If you don't want to lower people's consciousness you could keep it positive. There are so many incredible visual artists and writers out there who do only beautiful uplifting works. You don't have to explore the depths of the human id to be an artist. The only downside I see in being positive is when artists try to force it and especially when they come out and say something upfront. Communicate with the energy of the art in the background, not with the literal content of the art.

For example a Maxfield Parrish piece is a spiritual lesson in appreciating beauty, but only in style, not in content, which in this case is just pretty scenery. If he were to write "Appreciate beauty." at the bottom it would be ruined.

[ellie]

Hmmm interesting, I have never thought about the "dark side of art", I probably can't help you too much, because I concentrate on the fun, innocent side.

All I would say is if you explore more dark art, maybe that's a good way to express yourself, without getting dark and gloomy in your day-to-day activities? I always wondered what Chris Cunningham enjoys about his work - he he! God I would hate to create that kind of work.

Actually that's not true I have done some "dark" artwork for clients. I enjoyed it, because it challenged me, and took me into a new genre that I hadn't explored. I suppose it's a bit like being an actor, where you create different characters and express yourself through that character but then at the end of the day, you detach and go back home to normal life.

[absentmindfulness]

Thanks for the insights guys. I can definitely appreciate what you're saying Taylor; ideally I'd love to be able to create work that raises people's awareness on a consistent basis. I recently re-watched the movie Waking Life and experienced a temporary elevation of consciousness such as I experienced the first time I watched it. My hope is that my art will allow people to experience that same feeling, but I don't feel like I'm at that level of consciousness or skill yet. I like the actor comparison Ellie; that's exactly how I feel about creating darker work. The idea that I can access darker energies at will but continue to remain a generally positive person is appealing to me.

I do continue to feel that dark and negative art has some merit. I remember a bookstore clerk telling me the book Fight Club got his son back into reading. Christopher Nolan's Batman films, while dark, got me thinking about developing positive character traits such as justness and the fortitude to go against the grain. I recently read Steve's Completion vs. Perfection, where he mentions that his favourite artist is Depeche Mode. Depeche Mode is far from a consistently uplifting band; their song "Personal Jesus," for example, has been covered by the likes of Marilyn Manson. But that doesn't necessarily make them a "bad" band; they simply are what they are.

I'm definitely interested in David Hawkins's work, maybe it'll change my perspective completely. For now though I think I'm just going to focus on creating what I want to create at my current level of awareness.

[KaleidoskopicVision]

If there's one thing art has done for me, it's made me realize the immense value of being able to consciously embrace as a creative person what most people refer to as darkness and evil. Exploring the darker side of your psyche and refusing to listen to your superego reprimanding you for not making 'good' art is part of your metamorphosis into a more self aware artist. To be able to unhinge your creative power from limitations you must strike out against all those sacred cows of the mind in a rather violent fashion. Spill their guts, let the crimson red flow and cold steel add dimension to an otherwise chaotic hell. At first there will be fear, of losing yourself with reckless abandon in some kind of deranged and debased evil madness. This passes as you realize that lucidity is maintained throughout the exploration of the carnal and the imposition of the unholy onto uncreated space. You will begin to feel the immensity of what creativity can do, for its own sake and without any cold moral chains to bind the beast. Enjoying the act of creation will come naturally as you realize you don't have to be a 'good person' while making art.

You'll breathe a sigh of relief as the specter of the noble artist chokes its last breath in a pool of acetone on the studio floor. Art is not for the priest or the politician. Art is the right hand of the libertine and the shaman. If you are afraid of a perpetual stride toward ever expanding vistas of freedom then the life of a fiery creator spirit is not for you. But if my words stir something deep within you, however small it may seem now, take notice of that struggling muted voice and listen closely. It is your soul that wishes to speak the shameless truth of its existence.

[taylor]

^ Don't listen to that guy. He's evil.

I hear he eats babies for real.

[KaleidoskopicVision]

Originally Posted by taylor

^ Don't listen to that guy. He's evil.

I hear he eats babies for real.

Rumor has it witches used baby fat as an essential ingredient in all the best demonic summoning rituals.

Art, being magical, must surely have something to do with witches and their larders of baby fat.

[absentmindfulness]

KaleidoskopicVision, I really appreciated your response. You sound like an experienced, self actualized artist and I'd be interested in seeing some of your work. I like the idea that art is a separate realm and that darkness can be consciously embraced. Personally I think that in order for my work as an artist to be fulfilling I will need to explore it at some point, and as I grow and mature I feel I'll be able to access it more confidently. Thank you for your words.

[VinceG]

My favorite artist is Hugh McLeod. He often writes about art, his medium is business cards. His mix of the worldly and the spiritual is really inspiring to me. People think you have to get dark to get interesting. I think light can be just as interesting.

Gapingvoid | "Hugh MacLeod" Cartoons drawn on the back of business cards

[FelineNostalgia]

I've been thinking about this a lot as well and I'm currently hovering on the thought of- what if we need to explore or express these dark feelings and experiences so that we can go through the process in order to eventually properly experience and express bliss and a higher conciousness.

When you go through these processes as well I think there is something quite beautiful about them, perhaps it's just part of a necessary cycle

I've had more than a few breakdowns over my work and really turned myself upside down and back to front with it but I've came out of it much wiser and a lot more unburdened

[Asten]

This is a question I've been wondering and considering posting on. Dark art, music, and writing have always been things I'm both drawn to and create myself, and I haven't been sure where to fit that into my quest to into higher levels of consciousness.

Honestly, I don't know.

What I do know is that I'm in the process of writing a novel (although whether it's ultimate format will be a novel or not, I don't know) that is extremely dark--but I feel driven by my higher self to write it. It's what I'm supposed to be doing, and that's that. I have no question about it.

Why? I don't know.

How is something so dark inspired by my higher self? I don't know.

How does it help me toward becoming a more conscious person? I don't know that yet either, but I've never had to be so honest with myself as I am in the process of writing this. I don't know who I'll be when it's done. So maybe that's the "how" or maybe it's something else I won't understand until I'm finished, who knows.

But I think the lesson I'm getting from my own experience is to listen to ourselves--there are many paths of expressing our purpose. It's more about how we are than what we do.

[brendannz]

Originally Posted by absentmindfulness

Is it morally sound to explore negativity for the sake of creating good, meaningful art? Is it in the interest of human consciousness to expose yourself to material and situations that temporarily lower your own consciousness?

I'd say it would probably be more morally sound to be an honest dark person than a fake chirpy/ bright / cheerful question

So the question about what do you want to express is who are you? how do you want to communicate this? Who do you want to communicate to?

Good luck

[Dulma]

Art can more accurately be categorized into conscious and unconscious art, in my opinion. Negative or positive doesn't really matter as much. You can have an unconscious film that vibrates at a low frequency and is, let's say, about some hot young people who meet and then have some relationship issues but end up getting married and living happily ever after. See? Positive - in a sense. But this kind of creative piece doesn't really do anything for anyone on a deeper, energetic level. It is there to stimulate and entertain on the most shallow of levels and the pleasure it gives has no real value, it's like junk food for the mind.

On the other hand, a work of literature that was created with consciousness can explore human misery and tragedy in an enlightened way. I personally would group the ancient Greek playwrights and Shakespeare into such a category. They portray human folly in a light that makes us self-reflect and, at their best, gives us the catharsis or release that Aristotle advocates in works of art.

Do you see what I'm getting at? If it's not your style, you don't have to focus on works that are sappy and cheesy. It's their energetic frequency and what they can do for the human consciousness rather than the actual content and whether the subject matter is rainbows and flowers and romance or despair and grief and misery. If you portray those things with truth and awareness, then you will succeed in creating something that will enrich others.

[ar81]

Evidence Linking Mania and Hypomania to Creativity


Biological Basis For Creativity Linked To Mental Illness

[Asten]

^ That doesn't surprise me. I'm at my most "interesting" when I'm feeling particularly creative.

[invisiblehouses]

Originally Posted by Dulma

Art can more accurately be categorized into conscious and unconscious art, in my opinion. Negative or positive doesn't really matter as much.

You just managed to put into words something I've been...not exactly "struggling with," but definitely thinking about lately. It's not what your art explores, but how; is it consciousness-raising or consciousness-lowering?

Of course, my recent musical output has all been satire, so that's negative art that's pretty obviously making fun of certain attitudes. It's not really consciousness-anything. It's just goofy.

[Dulma]

Originally Posted by invisiblehouses

You just managed to put into words something I've been...not exactly "struggling with," but definitely thinking about lately. It's not what your art explores, but how; is it consciousness-raising or consciousness-lowering?

Of course, my recent musical output has all been satire, so that's negative art that's pretty obviously making fun of certain attitudes. It's not really consciousness-anything. It's just goofy.

Awesome. What genre, if I may ask?

[invisiblehouses]

Originally Posted by Dulma

Awesome. What genre, if I may ask?

Droning, monotonous punk rock by a fictitious band (it's the two latest posts at the "Free Dumb Rock" link below).

I've got some "pretty" music in the works, too, but that takes longer.

[cacheborn]

I don't think it's negative to explore deeper influences through great works of art. In fact, if done right, it gives a depth to your character that would be hard to attain otherwise. I had this problem few years back. When I read something distressing/sad/tragic it used to affect my mood. Since then I have learnt to be stable in my center and appreciate these works as different facets of life. It certainly makes life more meaningful and enriching.

If you are producing such are yourself, be careful not to get stuck in the 'other world'. When you live your life, live it the way a growth oriented person would live. Getting stuck in the dark side and not being able to come out of it leads to sad episodes like suicides of Hemingway and Virginia Woolf.

[Andras]

Any art that makes the audience pause and think is good art. Art should have some beauty but the beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Beauty is most related to music and paintings (visual art) where the images maybe controversial but the choices and selections of colors can be soothing and elevating. Similarly, in writing the power of words and choosing them well can stir up emotions and make one become a good writer. Not all good art has to be mooshy, gooey new agey lovey-dovey stuff. Just my 2-cents.

Originally Posted by absentmindfulness

I've noticed many creative people and a few artists among these forums, and I was wondering if any of you could help me with a dilemma I'm currently having.

I'm an artistic individual, and have been over the past year been getting back in touch with my creativity through outlets such as drawing, writing and music. I would very much like to pursue one of these as a career, and if I had to choose one it would probably be visual art, with writing in close second. Ideally a combination of the two.

However, something about being an artist or creative writer feels like it conflicts with the idea of being a conscious human being. I've found that many of my favourite artists have a different approach to creativity than Steve Pavlina. These include filmmakers and writers such as Allan Moore, the Coen Brothers and Terry Gilliam who I would label as deconstructionists, and my dilemma is how to reconcile my love for their art with a positive attitude toward life. Much art explores the dark side of humanity which I personally find fascinating. Is it morally sound to explore negativity for the sake of creating good, meaningful art? Is it in the interest of human consciousness to expose yourself to material and situations that temporarily lower your own consciousness?

[taylor]

I was toying around with the idea that all art is a form of affirmation about the reality. We've all heard the phrase "you create your own reality." I think art, as images and influences, gives people options as to the reality they want to create. Therefore when you immerse yourself in very dark stuff, you get sucked into that value system, which tends to cause you to create that in the world. We are like sponges, constantly looking around at the world for ideas for what we want and what values we want to express.

[Maya2066]

The Universe is neutral. We are the one who judge....

Anyway we need both for the contrast. How would we recognize beauty if we were not exposed to uglyness. How would we know happyness if we didn't also experience sadness...