John Cusack and What’s For Sale

Last week I watched actor John Cusack on Into the Actor’s Studio (2007). He was asked about American’s obsessions with celebrities. He’s been acting for almost thirty years, so he had a few things to say:

“It used to be that you didn’t really know people like Dustin Hoffman and Al Pacino, what they did, what they ate for breakfast, the intimate details of their lives, how they felt about their sons or daughters. And you know who really cares? What they had to say you could see through their work. The mystery of someone is good, and why would you want to take that away? I can think of a million bad reasons to court ‘celebrity’ and only one good one, you can get good tables at restaurants.

“Some people feed into that machine and think that every bit of information about their personal lives is valuable infromaton to others, all so people can go sell commercials and magazines. It all seems like insanity to me.”

(Yes, I realize the irony in me posting a comment criticizing the nature of American’s obsessions with celebrities while watching an interview with a celebrity. My response is that this show isn’t about ‘celebrities’ and their latest fling, which is what Cusack and I am criticizing. This show is about actors, the journey one takes to the screen and the pursuit of honing the craft. I think the primary difference is viewing someone as a teacher, learning from their story and experience, or viewing them, in their personal lives, as a source of entertainment.)

Tags: art, culture

The Artists’ Plague: Self Doubt

I think artists (and as a writer I’ll consider myself one) are plagued with the worst disease – self doubt. Somebody, like a grocery store manager, doesn’t deeply battle with their work like an artist does. Probably because in managing a store you’re either right or wrong, and the task at hand doesn’t birth from the core of you’re being. But the artist doesn’t have this privilege; since all the work is from the heart artists reveal themselves to the world. It feels like getting naked in front of everyone you know.

So, there’s all this uncertainty and doubt once something has been created – is it right or wrong? Is it any good? Will people admire it?

We too easily let these questions be about us (i.e. Am I any good? Am I valuable?) rather than the work, but we can’t let our justification for existence come from that which we produce or the approval we earn. Justification is always given, not earned. (I personally suggest the unconditional love of God for the quenching of this need.)

I’ve begun to think that art is always right, that even bad art is good in some sense, because creating is the point. And you have to create bad art to eventually create some good art. If this is true, even if you don’t find yourself in the refuge of God’s love, you don’t have to let your art define you.

Tags: art

Quiet as Snow

Last Sunday night, when the skies dumped white all over Atlanta, I got home late. It was already snowing and already dark. I stood on my patio before going inside. Usually I hear cars, but the snow stopped peoples plans and ambitions for a moment. We all had to be still. I watched the flakes float to the ground. There was no noise, only the sound of children playing in the park.

Snow: Why Did you Deceive Us?

Day 1: Snow, I like to let you fall gently on my face. I adore your sensitivity and ease. You make me a more restful and playful person. I’m a better human being with you around. I think I’m in love with you, Snow.

Day 2: Snow, why did you have to change? Why did you have to go and become hard? Why did you lead me on with all the soft stuff then become so cutting? I thought we really had something special going, but now I don’t know. Now, you’re nothing like you used to be.

Day 3: Damn you, Snow! I hate you. You’ve ruined my life, and I haven’t seen people in three days. Every closet, cabinet, and drawer in my house is organized. All my laundry is done. I cleaned my baseboards and built an armoire out of scrap wood. I’ve watched seventeen episodes of Cash Cab. I’ve been eating stale cereal for three days. You’ve imprisoned me to these chores and this house. I resent you and want you gone.

Day 4: Snow, you will hold me back no longer! I will leave my house today! I may slide my car into a ditch, but I will no longer be confined to my house. I have to move on with my life.

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Here are some pics of my little girl and me playing in the park. From our smiles it’s safe to assume they were taken on Day 1.

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Tags: family

Snow and the Gospel

Thomas the dog and I went for a walk yesterday late afternoon. The sky was gray, soon to begin dumping snow on Atlanta. I walked down our street, not a polished neighborhood. Century old houses line the streets. The sidewalks are cracked. Fences need mending. A lot of it is not pleasing to the eye. Flawed.

I went for another walk this morning, my wife and girls went, Thomas the dog as well. Everything was white. The cracks and flaws were covered. Brilliant white covered it all. The blemishes were gone. It was a different world.

My friend, Jess, reminded me of the song “White as Snow”:

White as snow
White as snow
Though my sins were as scarlet
Lord, I know
Lord, I know
That I’m clean and forgiven
Through the power of Your blood
Through the wonder of Your love
Through faith in You I know that I can be
White as snow

Tags: gospel

Article on Mockingbird

If you’re still in the Christmas spirit, or just interested in some history, jump over to my favorite blog, Mockingbird, for an article I posted a few weeks back: Christ was Never in Christmas.

New Year’s Resolutions: Part 2

It’s the 3rd of January, maybe you’ve already broken your 2011 goals. Breath easy, you’re not alone.

I found this over at the New York Times, “New Year, New You? Nice Try,”

“Most of us think that we can change our lives if we just summon the willpower and try even harder this time around,” said Alan Deutschman, the former executive director of Unboundary, a firm that counsels corporations on how to navigate change, and the author of “Change or Die,” a book that asserts that even though most people have the ability to change, they rarely do. “It’s exceptionally hard to make life changes,” Mr. Deutschman said, “and our efforts are usually doomed to failure when we try to do it on our own. In a season of change, in a year of change, most people who embark on a journey of self-renewal can expect anything but. Research shows that about 80 percent of people who make resolutions on Jan. 1 fall off the wagon by Valentine’s Day, according to Marti Hope Gonzales, an associate professor of psychology at the University of Minnesota.” (Alex Williams, New York Times, 2008)

Most people want to change, want to become new, but most people will never reach it. Christianity teaches that even those who do reach some behavioral change have no ability to create transformative inner change. Self improvement and achievement have no ability to power this sort of change. An entire different philosophy is needed – grace.

See, the greatest way to change isn’t self-improvement. It’s self-acceptance, “Man, I’m lazy, apathetic, mean at times.” And you realize in this acceptance that you are this but shouldn’t be. This is where we usually go to work, striving to rid the bad and create good. But Christianity says, let’s not talk about work yet, let’s just know that God fully loves you right now, before any change.