It’s hard to know sometimes if people make art for us or for themselves or both, or just because they can’t not make art. When people’s careers are laid low because of scandal or poor sales or bad reviews or some other reason, you’ll hear, “Why doesn’t he just stop?” and “Why won’t she just go away?” Sometimes it is because they need the attention to feel alive. I know that’s a cynical take, but I believe it is true.
At other times, I think they keep going because they must create, and it is in their nature and cannot be expunged. Some of these artists don’t measure their worth by how many albums they sell, or movies they make, or headlining spots they book at a big club, or how well their sculptures are praised by so-and-so in such-and-such fancy publication read by exactly three loyal subscribers. These relentless artists might feel shitty about bad reviews, and worry about money, but they keep making art because they have to, no matter who sees it.
They have things to say. We may not care to listen, but that doesn’t much matter to them. They keep going. It’s not about us, not really.
Sara Benincasa in MEDIUM
