Permission To Suck

While interviewing Will McFarlane for this video, I was reminded how critically important it is to avoid getting caught up in the nuance of our creative fields. “Music can be math without feel or tone” is one of my take away quotes in part II. Extending that, any field can be dry when devoid of feel or tone”.

We’ve been dealt a line of crap so many times we don’t believe as much of what we see and less of what we hear. What started as a 70’s T-shirt, “question authority”, has morphed into a societal mantra, “question reality.”

“Apple of My Eye” is a great little short film shot and edited on the iPhone 4 in 48 hours. It’s a great example of working “inside the box” of a creative challenge.

Creativity confronts the status quo; “established authority” if you will. Creativity is by nature disruptive; always asking questions and refusing to follow. With our shift from authority to authenticity, wouldn’t it make sense that creativity has shifted too?

I have a friend who asks at the end of a shoot, “Did you make art today?” “I think so” was my typical response because I’m never sure what I did with my camera that day will be considered art. Thinking back, it’s probably because I’ve assessed too many contact sheets and digital proofs filled with prosaic visual records.

The faster we spin our lives, the more often we’re building the plane already in flight; creativity is urgent to avoid a harsh inadvertent landing. “Permission to suck” is the dreaded essay test.

Perhaps we’re looking for meaning, or overcoming creative block, or simply have too much free time, yet my wager is on the speed of which our cultural environment is changing. We simply can’t keep up so we are gradually choosing an alternative: finding a place to plant our flag.

There are elements of a great picture beyond composition, simplicity, light, color, texture and all that designy-crafty stuff. With some tormented thought, I’ve narrowed it down to three elements that seamlessly overlap but are also separate enough that they seem to own a category.

I had a chance to talk with Creative Director and Copywriter Mike Allen about his career in Advertising and get some of his thoughts on branding and creativity. Here are 10 minutes from that discussion.

What is the street artist’s intent? Anti-social pop art with an extreme satirical point intended for consumption across all socioeconomic barriers, or is it hype driven brandalism by an artistic terrorist bent on pulling one over on a naïve culture?