The Inspiration Myth

[regretfullySaid]

Most people don't choose to obsess, though. You could care less about numbers but not stop thinking about them. At least from the mental angle, the difference between extreme interest and OCD...you may want to live a normal life but not stop thinking about something you usually wouldn't.

[whogivesaflux?]

When your actions and happiness are in close approximation, the summing of your creativity is near.

like.
but...
do these conditions need to be met to be creative ?
that's funny...I know some amazing artist which don't seem so happy to me.

I do agree that some conditions need to be met.. to trigger a creative thought...
the triggers are different for each person...
this is where "the muse" comes along (whether physical or idea)
you think it's mythical but I've seen it happen too...
of course.. you've got to be ready for when it comes...
so you better yourself in the meantime

cheers

no, no, no....i only say as much cause you seem very cool/sharp. This was all subjective and based on my experience. In this context happiness was and is for me, based on the acceptance that I need to act. This places my happiness/gratitude and my actions in a close proximity. Very simple for simple people like me. This is is not some type of universal formulaic constant.

I read through the thread and there are some very good points and some utter nonsense as well. i don't and won't argue with anyone over art, but when someone tells you that you need misery in order to create...an air of confusion is thick n thuggin'. muggy even

inspiration is a driver or motive
music is expression
expression in it's rawest capacity is a non specific unidirectional and formless cause n effect, send and receive, etc. (it's no respecter of one emotional musical classification or another)

why exactly, you might ask, is this the case? because at all times we are a post observational uncertainty

the act of agreeing with oneself is the most powerful of all creative drivers

is there any man that can successfully bring his expressions artfully to fruition that has not found agreement within himself? this is the act of acceptance. note, that I did not state he judged himself as righteous, just that he has found agreement within himself, even with his disdain, self loathing, or possible abhorrent fears.

all the same could be polarized opposites via the other side of the emotional mirror, again expression is non specific and knows no identity

muse is the act of one in awe, consciously looking back on creativity in a remote sense. even in the first person's self examination. we just give our astonishment a post analytical name. we call it "the muse" because we find comfort within the relevant identity of a traditional bearer of unworthy and exquisite gifts.

IMO, the summed gift is a subconsciously derived creative response that we consciously interpret as manifested expression according to action

to sum up MR. Close and my utter agreement with what he recommends here, I will cite a Fu Manchu derived imperative: The Action is Go

[3dot...]

no one says you need suffering... but it is a part of life...
you have some very valid points though...

[H20nly]

^ he does.

it sounds like someone secretly gives a flux.

[simmerdown]

for the uncontrolled there can be no wisdom

nor for the uncontrolled is there the power of concentration

and for he who is without concentration, how can there be peace?

and without peace, how can there be happiness?

-japanese proverb (i think)


direct reasoning between focus, discipline, concentration...and happiness/ Bliss

just cus the blues guys were miserable, or moreso in miserable circumstances, does not mean they were not happy, and that making music made them happy

but, alot of driven people are pretty damn crazy...im kinda jealous, i'd like to be crazy like that

ALSO...important to note...no artist in history, even the ones you might think of as the most driven, like Picasso for example, did not go through unproductive, and UNCREATIVE phases....without innovation and at times with zero production, the difference is they kept going, and going.....

[H20nly]

if you take into consideration how many songs (see Blues) and other art through the ages have been inspired by the loss of or longing for a woman, the answer becomes clear...

you need to lose your girlfriend... STAT!

[oblique strategies]

if you take into consideration how many songs (see Blues) and other art through the ages have been inspired by the loss of or longing for a woman, the answer becomes clear...

you need to lose your girlfriend... STAT!

That's what provided me with the conditions to create/receive that full-blown song which came to me that night on the beach that I wrote about earlier.

Never underestimate the power of strong emotions, & the effect they can have on creativity & expression. Nine Inch Nails 'The Downward Spiral' anyone? Or how about Beethoven's 'Ode To Joy'?

[metasymbol]

Inspiration is absolutely unnecessary and somehow deceptive.

That leads to uninspired muszak. Perfect technical constructions that sounds like some kind of music, but without artistic substance, without soul. Inspiration is necessary for every kind of art. Music without inspiration is boring noise. Spiritless and needless.

Inspiration is not all, thats true. The handcraft basics are important, but without the substance inspiration the resulting music products are only practicing lessons. Good music is 10% inspiration and 90% sweat (transpiration).

A hobbyist.

[Dr Venkman]

Sounds like a lot of you would be interested in a book called 'Imagine - How Creativity Works' by Jonah Lehrer, very good book, touches on a lot of the stuff that's been mentioned here. Also for the guy that mentioned the blues check out 'Music of the Common Tongue - Survival and Celebration in Afro-American Music' if you haven't already.

Good thread

[billz270]

so true man. i've been thinking i'm going to get this crazy tune some day or another. i've only been at it for about 8-9 months.. i've not come up with any crazy tunes yet.. but i know im getting better so far. and its all because i have my brain attached to the music when im working.. even if its not going well, its attached. because it eventually goes somewhere or the other. Thanks for the motivation!
peace be with



www.soundcloud.com/staybeyondrecords

[Bagatell]

Sounds like a lot of you would be interested in a book called 'Imagine - How Creativity Works' by Jonah Lehrer, very good book, touches on a lot of the stuff that's been mentioned here.

Thanks for that recommendation, a most enjoyable read. Collaboration is the key, it seems.

[simmerdown]

just placed a library hold for imagine...thanks for the tip

[Bagatell]

just placed a library hold for imagine...thanks for the tip

Bear in mind the author is a Rhodes scholar..

[simmerdown]

got the audiobook version too, in case i cant comprehend, lol

[reeloy]

....you don't have ideas....
....they're all up in the air.....and you got to catch them....

and yeah, they'll find you if you're on the way and just keep goin'.....