---John Bruni, Author of STRIP and TALES OF QUESTIONABLE TASTE
When I read this in my e-mail tonight, I had an epiphany. Thus, my reply:
"As for having your cake and eating it too...that's what the Artist can have. Never mind the canvas. I think that's part of where my drive towards art comes from. Square Jobs, man, sure, you get a paycheck, but you end up wrapped in all this American Scream doggerel that means absolutely fucking nothing. I mean, what are you going to pass on to future generations? A mortgage? Credit debt? I'm seeing this in action right now since the death of my Gramma. The wolves are descending on Mom.
"The Artist, on the other hand, passes down something else--immortality. Not only does he/she have his/her work and reknown to leave behind, but hopefully there's a shitload of money. Movies, like POLLACK, may be made out of them. And their kids will ALWAYS hear "Holy shit! That's your Father/Mother?" It may take time but the kids will learn to appreciate it and maybe even pull a Joe Hill. So yes, we writers, drawers, actors, etc. get our cake and eat it too because the cake fucking recycles itself."
Maybe that sounds crazy to some but it damn sure doesn't sound crazy to me. It's the truth. Granted, there are two sides to every coin, and if you're a failure, well...I guess you can always lie in the Rye and shoot some smack before gutting yourself with a letter opener.
I'll admit it. I can't stand punching a clock. I feel like I'm wasting my life. The money is always shit and pays for very little when you're not some big-shot J.P. Fatback CEO or the leader of a Super PAC. Show of hands--how many folks out there enjoy living paycheck to paycheck? How many of you ever wondered if maybe, just maybe, you might be wasting your life?
If you're an Artist you have whether you know it or not. See you later, Tortured Suns.
No comments:
Post a Comment