The Examined Life (Part I)
If there is a right, just and moral way to live, work and interact with the world, it is inevitable to ask why it cannot easily be articulated and agreed upon by all and why practically every formal doctrine attempting to do so becomes rife with paradoxes and contradictions. There’s no doubt that a discussion of any given ethical, political, or religious framework will yield any number of interpretations attempting to resolve these conflicts with varying degrees of credibility. Still, the fact that they are so pervasive and often require significant mental leaps to reconcile suggests that all our beliefs, no matter how strongly held, are flawed to one degree or another. We are all susceptible to confirmation biases, social incentives, temptations, imperfect knowledge of facts, and a lack of expertise required to process them objectively. Not one of us has the answers to everything.
The knowledge that we are so imperfect and prone to error and irrational rationalizations also leads to an inevitable conclusion: no matter what my beliefs are, there is always a chance that they may be wrong.
Self-doubt can be a powerful tool for evolving our abilities to perceive our very existence and what we should do with it. But, like all powerful tools, it also has the power to destroy and sabotage our efforts or even our desire to become better (however we choose to define the term). And a choice it is.
It’s hard, sometimes, to write about such things from the perspective of a “photographer.” Certainly, analogies can be made that may resonate with others who share a passion for photography, but the boundaries between “how to be a good photographer” and “how to be a good person” fade to almost nothing the instant one begins to think in those terms. It’s easy to define virtue and success within the tiny bubbles of aesthetics, effort, financial success, or social media celebrity. Not so easy when trying to articulate the personal and social value of one’s life choices, photographic or otherwise.
Before sharing some of my own meditations, I think it is fair to ask why so many choose, implicitly or explicitly, to avoid considering such topics altogether. I can think of two: an acknowledgement that a universal doctrine is not possible, so why re-hash well worn arguments? Or a fear of the implications of coming up short by one’s own definition of what’s “right.” The former, I suggest, is a red herring. Just because a universal truth may not exist doesn’t mean that a personal one should not be established (and continuously refined) to guide one’s life. In other words, failing to articulate one’s reasons for living as he or she does just because such articulation may not agree with the opinions of others is ultimately an excuse to avoid the responsibility of living up to one’s own convictions. Not surprisingly, perhaps, this same conclusion also applies to the latter reason. Neither is very flattering and both converge to just one reason: fear.
My most recent examination actually did have something to do with photography, though. As I was researching some of my recent blog posts about art and photography, I came across several harsh critiques and proclamations — some from very prominent thinkers — that photographs in general are not as worthy as art created by other media. Of course, my immediate reaction was anger. My instinctive response: I need to articulate to myself why these criticisms are wrong, tear them down, and expose them as utterly ridiculous. I am, after all, proud of my art and believe it is as valuable and worthy as any other. I realized, though, that doing so would also be dishonest. Before formulating a response I had to ask myself the question I did not want to consider: what if they were right? I did not believe they were. More honestly: I did not want to believe they were because the implications would be profound and unpleasant. At the same time, though, I realized that any counter-argument I make without allowing for the possibility of them being right, will not be anything more than airing my own prejudice.
“If photography is allowed to stand in for art in some of its functions it will soon supplant or corrupt it completely thanks to the natural support it will find in the stupidity of the multitude. It must return to its real task, which is to be the servant of the sciences and the arts, but the very humble servant, like printing and shorthand which have neither created nor supplanted literature.” –Charles Baudelaire
To be continued… here.
Kirk: Come on. Spock, why didn’t you jump in?
Spock: I was trying to comprehend the meaning of the words.
McCoy: It’s a song, you green-blooded…Vulcan. You sing it. The words aren’t important. What’s important is that you have a good time singing it.
“Where ignorance is bliss, ’tis folly to be wise.”
Worrying about whether you are making art or not is bound to be a cause of suffering because you’ll always be able to find qualified people to tell you yes and no. To this son of an artist, much of what is called art in our time is crap anyway.
More importantly, does doing what you do bring you joy and contentment, and joy and contentment to your followers. Asking for more than that is a waste of time.
Perhaps you are a prominent thinker as well.
“…photography is an art of observation. It’s about finding something interesting in an ordinary place…it has little to do with the things you see and everything to do with the way you see them.” Elliott Erwitt
Wonderful quote, Rebecca, and thank you for the kind words. I am not necessarily compelled to be prominent or popular but I do enjoy thinking about what I do.
Thanks, Dan. Of course you’re right, and of course it brings me great contentment. I have to qualify “what I do,” though, which I don’t consider limited to photography. I get as much contentment from numerous other aspects of my life, including thinking and writing about photography.
Ultimately, we all tend to be protective of the things we care about, and want others to care about them, too.
Bliss is overrated, Matt. There are joys in wisdom much greater than anything possible through ignorance. The ostrich is not actually safer for burying its head in the sand.
If your efforts and passions are truly to please YOURSELF, and contentment achieved, who cares what others think or say…
… unless you need their $$$, then your at THEIR mercy
Pleasing yourself is rewarding in one way; inspiring (and being inspired by) others is rewarding in other ways. It’s not an either/or situation.
Practically all artists need patrons to pursue their work. Certainly some will pay to have things done “their way” but thankfully there are many others who will pay for the creative efforts of others. Without them we would never have had the Renaissance, Impressionism, Rock music, or really anything much beyond Classical depictions of benign mythology.
We still live in a world where “patron of the arts” is an honorable distinction, alongside “humanitarian,” “philanthropist,” “a person of good taste” and many others.
Your reality is what you make it to be. If you approach life as a cynic, it will give you plenty to be cynical about. If you try passion and empathy, you may be surprised by what you get.
Guy
“Practically all artists need patrons to pursue their work. Certainly some will pay to have things done “their way” but thankfully there are many others who will pay for the creative efforts of others. Without them we would never have had the Renaissance, Impressionism…” or the vast empire of Peter Lik
Yup… plenty to be cynical about. Now try it the other way
I like much of Peter’s work! I thoroughly enjoy visiting his galleries. I make my living mostly off the direction of others and I feel good about the end product I deliver.
You have thick skin and a very caring nature, but I think this post has some of your inner loathing towards certain parties seeping out. I could be wrong though, I’m often wrong a lot. I’m a work in progress ;~}
I’m certainly not immune to cynicism and at times allow it to color my own judgment. We’re all works in progress and sometimes we need to consciously remind ourselves that there are better and more honorable ways to live and interact.
My purpose in writing these posts is because I want to see myself through other people’s eyes and I’m willing to change my mind.
Thank you for writing these blog posts and thank you for being a friend. I’ve learned so many good things from you, at times very frustrating to you I know. Your a mentor and an intellect I’ll never be. My whimsical nature gets the best of me at times, or should I say, others.
Thanks, Matt! I’m truly honored and humbled.
Guy
I am curious if there was an explanation of why those thinkers made their statement about photography not being as worthy as other media. What is the quality or aspects of other media that make it more art? Is it the more direct hand of the maker? Skill in execution? Technical knowledge of the media? Manipulation of the media? Ability to express yourself? Uniqueness?
Isn’t the photograph equally capable of containing all those elements? I can think of nothing that would make painting, for example, more qualified as art than photography? Yet for all that, I still go through periods of insecure thinking towards my work.
For what it’s worth, because I do practice traditional forms of art making…I consider my photography to be a more authentic self expression than my traditional art making, which to me would make it more authentic art than painting or drawing. But I know others can see a better opportunity to profit from one of kind work, and wage a pretty effective ad campaign to get the public to place more value on that type of work.