Is it an artist's job to reflect their times?
To embody their times?
What if their times are wrong about everything?
Should an artist be more true to their times, or to the radiant truth of Creation and the Cosmos?
An artist does not have to be in touch with their times.
They only have to be in touch with Something.
Something.
And spiritual Truth.
And if an artist wants to have a relationship with their times
They need to figure out if what their times say is good or bad.
For if an artist seeks a relationship with their times
Than if their times is saying bad things
It is an artist's job to defy their times
And denounce their times
And prove them wrong.
If my times here in early 21st Century America says that it's people's job to be in fear and feel guilty
Than it's my job to defy and denounce my times
And not embody them.
Like Tolkien and his materialistic times.
Tolkien lived in a materialistic time.
And he denounced his time's backwards rampant materialism
And showed us what is better.
I was born into an America that had discovered the divine light of the world at Woodstock and wanted to preach Woodstock's light to the stars
And as a teen I was plunged into an America that had lost faith in Woodstock
Lost faith in Steven Spielberg dreams
And wanted us to be afraid and live in gloom.
I denounce my time.
I know better.
When our time says bad things, it is our job as artists not to embody our times but to denounce them and seek something better.
I have an advantage.
I grew up in the America of the 80's and grew up knowing better.
But people older and stronger than I lost faith.
I held on.
I am good at holding on.
I still know the light.
If you don't know the light
Simply start by showing people how wrong your time is
And seek the light
And show people the search.
Because it is not an artist's job to embody their era!
It is an artist's job to embody spiritual truth
And connect with something
Anything!
As long it is worthwhile and has something good to say!
For that is where the spiritual truth is!
In the good and beautiful things!
Seek the light and embody spiritual truth!
And if your times say bad things
Denounce them and prove them wrong!
That is the job of an artist!
God loves you!
Sincerely,
David S. Annderson