Shadows

"What drives me to be an artist, to make the work I do and I think that a large part of being an artist is being delusional. You have to be totally delusional and slightly narcissistic. You have to be delusional to think that you’re going to think up stuff and people are going to be interested in it." – Phil Toledano

Comments

[Stephanie]

It is unspeakably important to me that I not be delusional; I'm Objective City when I need to be and would be disturbed if that capacity weren't at the ready at all times.....HOWEVER, I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT THIS DUDE IS TALKING ABOUT AND YES, IT IS TOTALLY DELUSIONAL AND NARCISSISTIC TO THINK THAT ANYBODY GIVES A SHIT ABOUT THE FORMAL REPRESENTATION OF ONE'S SUBJECTIVE PERCEPTION, ART, BUT, DAMMIT MOTHERFUCKERS, IT IS MY DELUSIONAL NARCISSISM THAT IMPARTS MY CHARM, OR SO MY NARCISSISTIC ANALYSIS TELLS ME:) It's also the delusional narcissism that gets one through when nobody pays attention to one's art; my shit's the bomb so, if appetites are not for what I'm providing then, its their crap taste to fault. Not to say I believe any perspective can be universally appealing but I look at what pulls high-ass rating in the media world and it's either bad or bathing in mediocrity. Sometimes, I honestly feel like I'm my favorite person and if everybody's somewhere else, that's too bad, but there's no way I'm compromising myself to go where they're at, just to be there. I'd rather be unread and content than, read and deeply at odds with what kind of pandering bullshit I printed just for the attention and the satisfaction it provides. My ego is too healthy to sell out for an ego boost. Note: This is why some people can't motherfucking stand me; I will not relent when I know I'm right and the other is the dumbass. Won't do it, ever. Unless they're not a dumbass. No need to be write, or even speak, all the time but I have my standards that are inviolable. However, I also have, and most people don't get this, a love of conversing when I know less than the other person. I love to learn and I consider it a treat to be in conversation with someone/ some people more intelligent than I, funnier than I, or just superior to me in some way that I get the chance to be quiet and let them carry the conversation and tell me something new.

[Dane Deasy]

I love this. I agree completely! The tricky part is knowing when to shut up and listen and realize that you don't know anything. For many it is very hard to admit they don't know something about a particular topic. It's difficult!