The Dangers of Hiding Out

For all that our muses require us to hang alone and commune, they drive a seductive vehicle that isolates. A prolonged journey into self can in fact be a flight of madness that serves no artistic purpose except as a quick trip to the inner scary spaces. It is within that visit that we might become inspired with new notions, but equally there might be an evil poseur using a hint of catnip to lure us over the edge. Here lies the critic in wait and she's not always helpful.

I have been exploring the effects of isolation on people during a period of great change for myself. As an introverted individual, I find periods alone essential to my well-being. However I have had to gravitate to more group activities in the last few years to find balance for creating my art and other types of work which I do alone.

During this strange period of upheaval in society it is quite easy to identify those persons who are spinning through the universe entirely alone. Some clearly lose their way. The increase of paranoid commentary, polarization in opinion sharing and a general lack in the realm of 'getting along' is making it both more and less difficult to collaborate artistically.

There are more opportunities than ever, but the dangers in the river of options are also greater. It is simple to find places of strong action and then form a reaction. This is happening all over the political landscape. New participants who have not expressed political opinions are popping up and popping each other right in the kisser.

But the realm of fewer opportunities is more troublesome yet. I would describe this space as the new political correctness. As the world becomes more polarized, the provocative artist can be viewed as the contentious artist. Never has it been so easy to invoke dem's fighten' woids just by following through on an artistic notion. And for all but the most robust this can cause us to edit ourselves to oblivion. Thus the new political correctness is utter silence, or at least trivia.

Dare I say more?