letters to a young artist
I believe that fundamental to becoming an artist is understanding the position of an artist, rehearsing that position, and practicing that position. It is from that position that you will develop an eye, an ear, and a heart.
We do that by learning how to step outside of given situations to watch, to listen and to feel, and to feel as others as much as to feel things about others. Feeling as others is empathy. Feeling for others is sympathy. Empathy is more useful and more important. It requires more rigor. That rigor will make you stronger of heart and spirit. Empathy requires a very highly developed imagination. It is more active than sympathy. It requires more intellectual development. Sympathy to me is just tears. Empathy is potentially very productive.
Stepping outside gives you the space to watch, listen, feel. To step outside you must suspend opinions and judgements. It doesn’t mean that you are devoid of them. It means that you can control them long enough to watch, listen, and feel. You store what you have learned, and then you do what you will with what you have gathered. You may even try to influence how others watch, listen, and feel. But first and foremost you must be able to step outside.To me, artists are students of the human condition, potentially. Being outside does not mean being without compassion. But it does mean that you may sometimes become clinical.
Standing in and out at the same time is a structural matter. It is a way of bringing order to the otherwise chaotic situation of life. I say chaotic because as an artist you are both in life and commenting on life. That’s your position.
Anna Devere Smith
New York City/ February 2000
Letters to a Young Artist
@1 year ago
#anna deavere smith #do your work
