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5 Questions I Have For All Artists

"We all are [different]. But there's something kind of fantastic about that, isn't there?"

Stella Grimaldi

Jun 20, 2019

University of Southern California

828

live.staticflickr.com

The other day, I randomly started writing a fan letter to my favorite film director, Wes Anderson. (You know, what fun, extroverted college kids do with their free time.) From eighth to twelfth grade, I revered him as an unparalleled genius without thinking very critically about his work. I loved the visual aesthetic, quirkiness, and humor of the films endlessly, blind to what I now recognize as flawed stories lacking diversity in more ways than one. Nevertheless, I still admire a lot about his films and wanted to know if he has a unique process. This is what inspired my compulsion to write him a letter full of semi-artistic, semi-intellectual, semi-pretentious questions. It was only when I looked back at some of these questions that I realized I wanted to ask these questions to everyone who has ever thought of themselves as an artist or creator (which, if I'm not mistaken, is pretty much everyone.)

Here are 5 questions I have of anyone who has ever worked to create art, for either themselves or for others:

1. How do you know whether you’re generating a meaningful idea or merely indulging in something self serving? Is it possible that the latter option is just as meaningful?

2. What specific qualities do you look for in the people you work with?

*Come to think of it, Wes Anderson's answer to this is probably just "Bill Murray."

3. Did you ever feel different or misunderstood growing up? If so, how did this shape you or manifest in your work as a creator?

4. What is your philosophy on beauty? What, if anything, is profoundly beautiful to you?

5. What do you care about putting into the world? By putting it into the world, what is your goal? (If you have one.)

I may not ever get answers to these questions from Wes or anyone else, but I hope anyone who feels inclined can search themselves for their own unique answers. I'll certainly try to.

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5 Questions I Have For All Artists

"We all are [different]. But there's something kind of fantastic about that, isn't there?"

1. How do you know whether you’re generating a meaningful idea or merely indulging in something self serving? Is it possible that the latter option is just as meaningful?

2. What specific qualities do you look for in the people you work with?

3. Did you ever feel different or misunderstood growing up? If so, how did this shape you or manifest in your work as a creator?

4. What is your philosophy on beauty? What, if anything, is profoundly beautiful to you?

5. What do you care about putting into the world? By putting it into the world, what is your goal? (If you have one.)

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1. It's easy to be fooled by shiny things.

2. Listen to your heart and follow it wherever it may take you.

3. Face your fears.

4. If life knocks you down try again and again until you can stand tall.

5. The ones we love never leave us, their lessons last forever.

6. When you make a mistake, fix it.

7. Never be afraid of being different.

8. All we all really want is to be loved.

9. You are stronger than you think.

10. Kindness is what brings the world to life.

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1. The one who sits in the front row

2. The one who is always online shopping

3. The one who always falls asleep

4. The one who never pays attention

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6. The one who is always stressed

7. The one you've never seen before

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6. Whale and snail

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10. Pig and a Twig

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What are some sources of rhyme without reason inspiration?

A long over due thank you note to my greatest passion.

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