ADDING TO THE NOISE OR NECESSARY VOICE?

The role of the creative alchemist

Why do you have to show everyone? My friend asked. Why can’t you just write your thoughts down and put them away in a drawer?

I love my friend. She has always had my best interests at heart, and today we were in disagreement about whether it was necessary for me to publish something about the current world events, that had left everyone tripping over themselves to find their side of the fence, before pointing daggers of blame at each other.

You won’t solve the issue by posting about it, so why even bother, she said. It’s too complex an issue to comment on anyway.

This is where we differ ever so slightly, in that I am led more by my heart and she is led a little more by her head.

It’s too delicate, she said, you can’t weigh in, because you don’t have any skin in the game.

Skin in the game? I repeated. Am I not human? Shouldn’t we voice concern when we see injustice in the world, rather than watching safely from the sidelines, holding our tongues, until that time where we are directly affected? Surely history has shown us that we must listen to our hearts and raise our voices when we feel it is needed?

The fact is, when it comes to issues that touch my heart, whether they be matters of environmental or human suffering, I have always tried to inhabit a good cop role, rather than bad cop, attempting to connect to people’s hearts, rather than slapping them in the face whilst screaming in their ear.

So when should one exhibit their creative opinions regarding world events?

It’s definitely easier and safer to speak up, when the enemy is clear and common, when all of our friends, relatives and associates are supporting the same cause. The difficulty lies, when we know affected people on both sides.

I believe that sometimes it is simpler to use the creative medium to comment on delicate issues, rather than simply stating them in black and white. As creatives, we not only address the statistics, but we also have the added skillset of being able to weave artistic emotion into them, allowing the viewer to connect on a deeper human level, rather than just robotically processing facts and figures.

As artists, I believe in using whatever medium you employ for good, even when good carries with it, the risk of alienating some people. Throughout my career, I have tried at different times to change people’s hearts and minds by using my platform and position in my industry. When diversity was lacking on the cover of fashion magazines, I lost clients because they couldn’t be bothered to have another argument with me about using more diverse models. When they told me that those diverse models could not carry high fashion, I took it upon myself to create a high fashion photography book, called DIVERSE BEAUTY to highlight their limited vision. When I believed that animal cruelty should not be part of the fashion industry, I started CREATIVES4CHANGE, further alienating a lot of people and losing clients, who not only did not want to shoot with me because of my aversion to fur, feathers and exotic skins, but also because they did not want to feel judged about the creative choices that, as they admitted to me later, they too felt were wrong.

When people disagreed with me, I respected their choices, just as much as when they did agree with me. Neither their approval or disapproval would affect my good intention, because I believed that we should never be led other people’s opinions of us.

It goes without saying, that those causes that I mention above, pale in comparison to what is happening in the world today.  We are faced with current events that are tearing communities apart, physically and literally on the battle field, and emotionally here at home.

I believe that if we are blessed to have a voice, and we believe we are fighting for a cause based on love and compassion, and we have the opportunity to inspire at least one person, then we are obliged to use it, as long as we always lead with love and light.

But why do you have to put it out there anyway? My friend said to me, with an air of frustration, as I argued my case for posting a certain open letter on social media.

Because that’s what creatives do, I answered, matching her frustration.

But do you really think it will make any difference? she asked. And if it doesn’t make a difference to the cause that you are fighting for, then what’s the point in posting it, especially if it gets some negative backlash from people who disagree with your views?

And as much as I hate to admit it, that last question got to me.  It was a good question, and it annoyed the shit out of me.

Why do creatives have to voice their thoughts and exhibit their feelings instead of just creating it, and then hiding it away? If creativity is our passion, then why can’t we be like the passionate skier, swimmer, reader or runner, who is able to enjoy their passions without the need to show everyone the fruits of their labor? What is this arrogance to think that our voice is necessary; that we feel that the world needs to experience the creative manifestation of that which inspires us?

Of course, half the battle is creating in the first place; touching pen to paper, brush to canvas, chisel to stone; but is it vanity when a creative wants to share his or her work with the world, or is it exactly for that purpose that they have been given this talent; to show a unique perspective of a situation, that causes others to react? Maybe the viewer will be inspired, or disgusted, or just simply disagree, but at least it causes an action, rather than just the numb silence of apathy.

If we cannot use our voices as a form of expression, to fight, to inspire, to love, to protest, then we have to wonder why were we given those creative sparks in the first place, that have the potential to instigate change.

It must seem entirely alien, for those not connected to their creative side. Because to embrace that creative part of ourselves, is to bare your heart and display your guts on canvas, lined page, or song sheet, presenting it for people to judge, comment upon, mock, or argue.

Interestingly I have found that it can be easier for non-creatives to accept the exhibitionism of complete strangers, rather than, God forbid, your best friend, sibling, parent, or child. It can be skin-crawlingly cringey to watch someone you have known on a personal basis, who suddenly wants to express themselves unabashedly to the world. Because of my peers growing up, I still find it difficult to watch people open up their hearts via romantic poetry, yet when I myself write poetry, it feeds my soul in a way that nothing else does.

The funny thing is that when I do share my creativity, (apart from being a photographer, which is my main, creative title and job) and I write poetry, children’s books, or these weekly newsletters, it is never about vanity, (he says unconvincingly), because I know that the fear that comes with putting your thoughts and creations out into the world for judgement, greatly outweighs any vanity stained desire.

Through the art forms of poetry, children’s books and writing, I’ve always had the basic intention of trying to spread as much light, love, positive thoughts and expression as I can, before I snuff it.

This in part, describes the innocent joy of creatives, that we get to see a world through our own uniquely tinted lens. We harvest that which is in the collective consciousness, and alchemize it into whatever nourishment the soul needs. We are not however saying, Look at me, but instead saying, Look at it. Look at it through my eyes, in the vain hope that we can depict the beauty, sorrow, joy and pain in the world, in a way that allows others to connect with, on a deep and emotional level.

So I guess the question we as creators should ask ourselves is: Is our creativity spreading positivity and hope, or spreading darkness and hate?

If it is the former, then we should welcome inspiration and allow the creative ether to flow through us, because there must be a purpose to it. Sometimes we can inspire millions. Other times it might only touch one person’s soul, but maybe that one person needed to see or hear something that translates the storm of emotions within their own hearts.

If we are using our creativity as a form of protest, dissent, or disgust caused by the malice and apathy in this world, this should also be permitted. There is an important line between shouting soundbites on social media, and creatively and thoughtfully opening your heart.

In times of war, each side has many roles that need to be filled by people with different skills: The general, foot soldier, diplomat, sniper and pacifist. But we also need those who inspire and keep us emotionally connected. That is where the creative comes in. Someone who can touch the hearts of men and women, when the politicians fall painfully short.

So to all the creatives out there, unsure of whether you should share your heartbreak during times of sorrow, or utter elation, during times of joy, I say, Shine On You Crazy Diamond and touch us all by showing us the world through your eyes.

……………………………….

ALIVE FOR A DAY

I was born today

and by tomorrow, I will be gone.

From one country, and many

I am a child of war.

……………………………….

An innocent soul,

I entered a world,

scarred by the sins

of all fathers,

and their fathers

before them.

……………………………….

No one

is as innocent

as I am

in this moment.

……………………………….

I know what love is,

yet I know not the word.

……………………………….

Words like hate,

revenge or borders

meaning nothing to me;

my world consisting only

of the embrace of my mother

and the smile of my father,

unaware of the cloud of death

that weighs heavy

upon their shoulders.

……………………………….

Yet tonight

I will be sacrificed as a pawn.

A life stamped out,

before it could

write a different story.

All chances of future peace

having been poisoned

by the wrongs of the past.

……………………………….

War is not my fault,

or of my doing,

but tonight,

I will fall under its shadow.

……………………………….

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