You know what I really like about books and paintings and art in general, but music in particular (because I just thought of this because of Wake Me Up When September Ends)? A lot of the times, you go through a lot of emotional trauma to write that one song, whether it's about a loved one passing away or a break-up or depression or even how pretty the sky is (maybe that one isn't so emotionally traumatizing). But once that song/book/whatever is out there, it creates so many new memories for so many new people. It's completely out of your hands, the effect your art has once it's out in the world. It's a little like what John Green says about books: they belong to their readers, and once it's out, the authors have no more authority over it than the readers do. They'll interpret it on their own; they'll imagine their own futures for characters after the end of the book. But also- they'll have their own story with the book, how it spoke to them and the memories it created, the feelings it evoked. Something that grew out of an awful experience for you might give strength to someone else, or might just be a happy karaoke memory, or background work music. Or something which you wrote on the happiest day of your life might be the song playing when a listener gets bad news. It's just weird how every single person who comes in contact with art, including the creator, has her own particular relationship with it.
~Sam
~Sam
This is beautiful. And so true! :)
ReplyDeleteMany of the posts in your blog are like that too :D they talk about deep stuff and intense thought while at the same time revealing nearly zero personally identifiable information (to someone who doesn't know you in person) - thus each one who reads it develops their own personal connection to it :)
ReplyDeleteThank you so much! :D (Both of you.)
ReplyDeleteZN, my reason for doing that was more because I'm paranoid about creeps on the internet, but I'm glad it's had this effect too. :D