Thanks Justin, it’s really great to learn about your thoughts on this subject.

First, I’m totally buying your sentiments about the timeless archetypal content that always resonates with humans, regardless of the time…

Thanks Justin, it’s really great to learn about your thoughts on this subject. I definitely agree on your perspective, but I laso deviate from it a bit. And since I don’t want to turn this into a polarizing discussion, I’m going to now walk on eggshells, a bit. But please don’t interpret my demeanor as a thinly veiled attempt at a passive-aggressive jab ;)

First, I’m totally buying your sentiments about the timeless archetypal content that always resonates with humans, regardless of the time or space coordinates. That much is given.

Secondly, I also feel (somewhat naively) that today humanity is facing an unprecedented situation. This is brought to us by the technological advancements that are now getting deployed at a massive, unprecedented scale. In other words, I feel that today all bets are off, and we’re staring at a brand new abyss.

And that’s where you and I don’t seem to coincide in our reasoning and sentiments. You seem to feel that it’s one of those ‘same old’, or ‘the more things change the more they stay the same’. I tend to deviate from that sentiment, if only for this particular point in time. No matter how we look at it, humanity has never had such advanced technology at their disposal, and the world as a global village never really existed before.

That situation cannot help but create additional stress and additional opportunities for artists and creators of all walks. So where is the beef then?

I’m not exactly sure how to comment on your sentiments regarding hardship, conflict, friction, and their role in producing valuable, meaningful life and content. My first thought was to quote Miles Davis. He said that when he was young studying at the Juliard in New York, the professor was teaching how blues music is the result of poverty, hardship, etc. To which Miles rose his hand and objected: “Look. I can play the blues, but my father is a highly paid professional, my mother is good looking, and I never had any hardship in my life, nor do I intend to experience any hardship in the future.” So Miles invalidated that sentiment using himself as an example.

It is clearly possible to create divine art without being the cliche of a starving artist. And maybe not having any hardship is even more auspicious for creating great art. Who knows?