Art for art’s sake is an English translation of a 19th century slogan coined by French philosopher Victor Cousin, l’art pour l’art.” The slogan was actually used to convey rejection of the concept that art must be informational or at least impart a moral value or educational purpose.
The use of the slogan came, after the 16th century break from the conventionality of art as a service rendered for the state or for the official religion.
The concept of ar for art’s sake also paved the way for the liberation of creative talents from perceived standards of what art has to be. It was an encouragement that artists took to heart by expressing their own ideas and imagination of what they envision as artful.
However, art for art’s sake was not the road to financial success because majority of the audience and procurers still clung to the idea of appreciating only that which conforms to what was mainstream. As a result, it also gave birth to the idea that creating artwork, or writing prose and poetry, leads an artist to a life of solitude and starvation.
Real Artists Don’t Starve if You See the Art of Work
Author of five best selling books, Jeff Goins, contradicts such status quo in his book “Real Artists Don’t Starve.” Goins debunks the myth that artists have to starve while waiting for an inspiration, and that they are selling out if embarking on strategies that will enable them to sell their creative work.
The iconoclastic author debunked the starving artist myth by providing enduring strategies that will allow an aspiring artist to thrive, when trying to come up with creative work that could become his or her masterpiece or bestseller.
In this day and age of digital technology, one does not have to be born an artist in order to produce work that attains near perfection. Artificial intelligence via software or applications, video tutorials, how to articles, auto corrects and even online editing services are now available as enhancing tools. Today’s artists also have multimedia marketing tools that they can harness to promote their art instead of letting it fade into obscurity. Goins calls the strategy of being creative and entrepreneurial at the same time as the “New Renaissance.”
In his other best selling book entitled “The Art of Work: A Proven Path to Discovering What You Were Meant to Do,” Goins encourages individuals to relentlessly look for their true vocation. To live with purpose and true passion is what actually matters.
Goins, who admits to having written several books that did not do well before, offers his personal experience and case studies of famous personalities engaged previously in some obscure career, as proofs that a continuing pursuit will eventually lead a person to his or her true calling.
