Anna Deavere Smith
Letters to a young artist
From the first page to the last I found Letters to a young artist impelling, insightful and motivational, not only for the inspiring artist, as it offered clear insight into a way of proceeding through life with an emphasis of paying attention to all that is around you and your assimilation and processing of it “ wide-awakeness”. The book, which is set up as most self-help and spiritual books are, allows the reader to access a character insight by definition from its contents, this is helpful for quick access to ones particular need. Her innovative method of producing a fictional young artist and her mentoring insights through letter was a process I found uniquely interesting. Miss Smith perception of “the man” a street verbiage depicting the positive or negative link in ones direction. I found this insight pertinent in fine-tuning ones awareness, and communication skills for their will always be the man who comes in many forms. He is the cop, the judge, the dope dealer, the director, the coach, the boss at work and the professor at school they are all instrumental in your movement forward, or backward so take note and act appropriately is her message. To think, act outside of the box, and to venture beyond the norm, to face your fears, and shed their shackles. To fall with a laugh, and not a frown and then to surface with a newfound strength, of passion and confidence in your path are character attributes of presence. The presence Miss Smith speaks of is being comfortable within ones skin and when you are, you shine. The inspirational and motivational theme Letters to a young Artist professes is a very down to earth humane approach. “Art should take what is complex and render it simple” In life as well.
Letters to a young artist
From the first page to the last I found Letters to a young artist impelling, insightful and motivational, not only for the inspiring artist, as it offered clear insight into a way of proceeding through life with an emphasis of paying attention to all that is around you and your assimilation and processing of it “ wide-awakeness”. The book, which is set up as most self-help and spiritual books are, allows the reader to access a character insight by definition from its contents, this is helpful for quick access to ones particular need. Her innovative method of producing a fictional young artist and her mentoring insights through letter was a process I found uniquely interesting. Miss Smith perception of “the man” a street verbiage depicting the positive or negative link in ones direction. I found this insight pertinent in fine-tuning ones awareness, and communication skills for their will always be the man who comes in many forms. He is the cop, the judge, the dope dealer, the director, the coach, the boss at work and the professor at school they are all instrumental in your movement forward, or backward so take note and act appropriately is her message. To think, act outside of the box, and to venture beyond the norm, to face your fears, and shed their shackles. To fall with a laugh, and not a frown and then to surface with a newfound strength, of passion and confidence in your path are character attributes of presence. The presence Miss Smith speaks of is being comfortable within ones skin and when you are, you shine. The inspirational and motivational theme Letters to a young Artist professes is a very down to earth humane approach. “Art should take what is complex and render it simple” In life as well.
Joe,
ReplyDeleteIf you haven't seen books like this before, I'd understand if you thought it was innovative and unique. However, Smith is contributing to a long line of "Letters to..." books and hers, for heavy-handedness and lack of substance, one of the worst I've seen. Her insights, even the ones you cite, can be boiled down to inspirational posters. What are the specifics? Why, exactly, should someone take her as a model?
I disagree with her basic assumptions. Art should take what is commonplace and reveal the complexity.
I think that if you are inspired by something, you're inspired by something. As flowery in prose and as airy as the tone may be, I am with you in saying that I liked ADS's book. I thought it was creative to create a character to write her letters to, and 'pretend' to give advice as a pen-pal to someone who wants to know from an accomplished artist her take on the whole art spiel. I don't think Smith did anything remarkably different in her book from any simple inspirational advice book, but I think it was a good opportunity for her to pick her own brain about her accomplishments. If you are looking for more direct, concrete advice, I think this would be the wrong place to go. Smith's book, rather, is what it describes on the front cover: straight-up advice. It's informal. If you were looking for anything different than a bit of an autobiography and some advice based on experience, you've come to the wrong place.
ReplyDeleteHey John -- I'm with you on the book. Could you be more specific about what you liked. (As a rule, watch cliches -- when one pops up, ask yourself, how can I clarify this thought?)
ReplyDeleteI am quickly learning that there are alot of "Mans" in this world.
ReplyDeleteThey are sneaky too, you don't realize it sometimes until it bites you in the buns.
I like what you said about Presence. You boiled it down to just being comfortable in your own skin which makes you "shine." Yes, this is true because I know some pretty inrtoverted people who are completely comfortable in their own skin and that does give them Presence even if they are not the most flamboyant character that enters a room.
ReplyDelete-Charlotte Ott