Aug 31, 2009
A question about consumption
Some of the best musicians I know have the most ridiculous music tastes I know (”I don’t know, I just love Céline”). A couple of them rarely even listen to music. They just write it. This “Ignore Everybody” approach helps them make their ideas happen without distraction and self-edit.
Other friends are inspired - they love going to shows, looking at art, reading books, talking perspectives. This outside perspective opens up new directions in themselves they didn’t even know were there.
What about you?
Does consuming ideas - music, art, essays, stories, tweets, talks, articles, and on and on - open your eyes and make you want to make things? Does it make it harder? Or do inspiration and solidarity compliment each other?
3 Comments, Comment or Ping
Cheryl
I am definitely an avid consumer of ideas. I LOVE looking at other people’s work and getting inspired, sometimes it can be as simple as the color or texture of something that gets me.
For me inspiration and solidarity compliment eachother in my “process”. After inspiration I need some time to sit alone and hash out ideas that stem from that inspiration without any input but my own meandering thoughts and sometimes I need to just let me hand/pencil think for me.
Sep 2nd, 2009
Ben Rogers
I just consume and then I never give back. And then I feel guilty, so I read more to bury the guilt.
Dec 18th, 2009
Brent Dixon
I do the same thing, Ben. It’s a vicious, vicious cycle.
Dec 18th, 2009
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