MAYBE it’s because I’m an artist, but I freakin’ loved the office scene last night between my sweetheart Stan (am I the only one who adores him? He reminds me of so many people I know) and the magnificent (and manipulative) Pima. Did their conversation click with anyone else?
All my fellow artists out there, I know your hands are shooting up in the air, but what about those of you who don’t work in a creative field? If you think their dialogue didn’t apply to you, think again. So what the hell is this amazing conversation of which I speak? Let’s recap, shall we?
MAD MEN AND THE BRAVERY OF VULNERABILITY
Pima – ‘You must show me your work.’
Stan – ‘I don’t know.’
Pima – ‘ I can feel the tension of your need for my approval.’
Stan – (pauses) ‘I wouldn’t mind you taking a look if you promise to be honest.’…
BAM! And there it is. A big old truth bomb (and the overarching theme of the entire episode) served up in menswear. Allow me to elaborate (gee, because I never do that).
Being an artist makes you vulnerable.
ART IS VULNERABILITY IN ACTION.
But to share your art? By sharing you’re taking your thoughts, your experiences, your feelings, your ideas, your hopes, your dreams, your fears, your vision and willingly putting them into the world for others to judge in whatever way they choose. Which, despite most artists’ best efforts to feel otherwise, means we feel like we’re being judged as individuals – our thoughts, our feelings, our vision…you get the idea.
It extends beyond mere execution or talent. And if you don’t think it’s terrifying, guess again. (Yes. Yes, it is terrifying…in case you were still guessing.)
ART IS VULNERABILITY.
Don’t believe me? Just ask Stan how he felt after what transpired between him and Pima in the darkroom. He was feeling like a dissected frog in a junior high biology lab. But that’s part and parcel for being an artist who shares their work…we willingly make ourselves vulnerable. But artists aren’t alone in this most terrifying of emotional endeavors.
IT’S ALSO PART AND PARCEL FOR BEING A LIVING, BREATHING HUMAN BEING ON THIS EARTH.
Several reviews of last night’s episode, “New Business,” seemed to find Pima’s appearance pointless and the entire story lacking. But it’s seems to me that those individuals may have completely missed the purpose of her interludes (as well as the entire episode) – the unspoken part of Stan’s Pima encounter (and every single other encounter by virtually every single character last night) that applies to us all – we are all broken or scarred; we are all wounded in some way either by our own hand or the hands of others; we have all caused pain and received pain in kind…
WE HAVE ALL BEEN HURT AND WE ARE ALL VULNERABLE.
And when we make ourselves truly vulnerable, when we willingly expose ourselves for who we really are and what we’ve truly done, it is an act of bravery – heart and soul both on display for others to judge in whatever way they choose.
Some will accept you. Some will reject you. That’s just part and parcel for such a bold act of bravery; of being a living, breathing human being on this earth.
Without great risk, there is no great reward. And even with great risk…well…most of our asses are still left flapping in the wind. But, in my experience as an artist and as a human being, it is far better to try; to open your heart; to expose yourself and give people the chance to accept you, the real you, the entire you, or reject you. And while it sounds trite, it’s true – even if you fail, at least you’ll know you tried.
Kisses & Chaos,
Alli Woods Frederick
IMAGES :: COURTESY AMC ::
