The Inspiration Myth

[Machinesworking]

Great thread.
Definitely my opinion as well. IMO the most anybody with a well balanced ego can hope for out of their own work is to like about 90% of the song, and think that the 10% needs more tweaking. If you just keep on writing songs where you like 90% of it you can look back over a batch of songs with the distance from creation enough to tell which songs are actually good etc.
IMO most writers block comes from too much analysis and not enough production.

[simmerdown]

as many shower and dishwashing moments as i have had, 95% of my 'inspirations' have happened right where i am sitting right now

[3dot...]

that's called shitspiration...

[The Carpet Cleaner]

A good wank and the music flows.

[ian_halsall]

hahahahahhahahahahahha

[crumhorn]

art = craft + hype

[simmerdown]

art minus craft = the vast majority of the last 30 years....it's coming back though,

though not a household name, chuck close has been in the art world for 40 years, and has work in major museums and collections around the world,he has made his mark already, def no chump getting haughty...he can call an amateur an amateur if he wants to

[whogivesaflux?]

nice one xeno, yes it definitely does hit occasionally...i keep getting zapped in the shower, or when im doing the dishes

I was walking on an empty beach one evening & it hit: I started singing a song, complete with melody & lyrics. I had to get home to record it! So the entire time I was walking back to my car & driving home, I kept singing it so I would not lose it! It's still one of my favorite compositions. And it came out of nowhere, completely formed.

That's the muse.

What you're describing is much rarer than inspiration. Anybody can become inspired over almost anything. People are inspired to yell fuck and all sorts of things when they stub their toe. What you're describing is a gift. The whole enchilada. The summing of creative consciousness is a gift often attributed to the generous courtesy of a myth, possibly a muse. I find that amusing.

The Close guy is right. Happiness is accepting that you gotta do what you gotta do, but knowing at the same time that you really don't have to. I think mortality is ultimately inspiring for me to take action. When your actions and happiness are in close approximation, the summing of your creativity is near.

[3dot...]

A good wank and the music flows.

'The carpet cleaner' just got a whole new meaning...

[3dot...]

When your actions and happiness are in close approximation, the summing of your creativity is near.

like.
but...
do these conditions need to be met to be creative ?
that's funny...I know some amazing artist which don't seem so happy to me.

I do agree that some conditions need to be met.. to trigger a creative thought...
the triggers are different for each person...
this is where "the muse" comes along (whether physical or idea)
you think it's mythical but I've seen it happen too...
of course.. you've got to be ready for when it comes...
so you better yourself in the meantime

cheers

[simmerdown]

Campbell?.....Bliss?...can i get a whatwhat?

[beatmunga]

When your actions and happiness are in close approximation, the summing of your creativity is near.

like.
but...
do these conditions need to be met to be creative ?
that's funny...I know some amazing artist which don't seem so happy to me.

I do agree that some conditions need to be met.. to trigger a creative thought...
the triggers are different for each person...
this is where "the muse" comes along (whether physical or idea)
you think it's mythical but I've seen it happen too...
of course.. you've got to be ready for when it comes...
so you better yourself in the meantime

cheers

The primary root of the popular music family tree is Blues.

A music which grew in a fertile soil of misery, woe, oppression and depression.

Happiness is a positive barrier to good music, surely..?

Cliff Richard is the happiest man in pop. I rest my case.

[beatmunga]

This is the most shared story on the BBC News website at this very moment:

"Creativity is a Mental Illness"

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-19959565

[ian_halsall]

But which comes first? Does being involved with arts make you depressed or are you depressed first which predisposes you to a career in the arts?

I have thought for a long time that real genius borders on obsession/autism.

The ability to be totally unbalanced and focus on just music or physics or maths and blank out almost everything else and be talented in it for all your life.

It's something that most people just do not want to do - they want to have a balanced life with variety - this will never lead to greatness.

But you will at least be happy.

[Bagatell]

It's something that most people just do not want to do - they want to have a balanced life with variety - this will never lead to greatness.

But you will at least be happy.

The corollary being I suppose, if your single minded and determined you will never be happy. That being said I suppose the article is right but with half the western world on some sort of medication I smell another agenda.