One of the biggest struggles of the Post-Modern era is the knowledge that everything has already been done. Obviously I don’t mean that literally, as it’s factually incorrect to say that any given work could be exactly the same as any other work. What I mean is the epiphanic point at which a creator must view their piece in the context of its predecessors. This could be as marginal as another person remarking, “Oh that kind of reminds me of …”, or as devastating as a realization of cryptomnesia. Regardless of intention, these previous works now forever act as a filter through which the new work is perceived.
I called this a struggle, because I’ve found that most people view this issue negatively, and actively attempt to break away from it. Artists are continually looking for more radical ways in which to express themselves, game designers desire to innovate gameplay that’s never been seen, and all of this is done with the underlying assumption that “new is good.” Societies the world over laud and praise examples of “new” art and technology, saying with pride, “This has never been done before!”, while denouncing pieces that are found to copy from existing work.
But why are we taught to feel this way? Why do we so vehemently seek to distance ourselves as individuals, instead of supporting each other as a whole? Why do we feel that the act of copying represents a step down? Do we snub the birth of a newborn baby because there’ve been so many before? Of course not, that’s ridiculous. Reproducing a piece doesn’t take away from its importance; it adds to its legacy. Pushing the borders of a field may be necessary for discovering what kinds of art we can produce, but it’s by building on the foundations which already exist that we increase our understanding, and improve the quality of our art.
Unfortunately, it seems this goal of true, worthwhile art always comes in second to the need to be on the forefront of innovation. Everyone is so rushed to be a part of the newest invention in every field, and relatively few artisans take the necessary time to hone their skills to the point that meaningful expression is possible. And it should be possible in every endeavor, not just those traditionally labeled as “art.” The Post-Modern artists were correct in saying that everything can be art, and one of the side effects of this is that everyone is an artist. Whether a mathematician or a janitor, we should all feel that what we create is our “art,” and strive to communicate through it, without worrying if it’s been done before.
It makes no sense to have a Doctor of Philosophy for every major, signifying the pinnacle of theoretical, innovative research, and not have a Doctor of Art for every major, signifying the pinnacle of skilled, meaningful craftsmanship.
