Not armies, but artists

There are days I wake up wishing it were all a dream. It has never been easy, but hopefully, the pain can turn into joy. Like childbirth. No, this is not from personal experience. I am biologically male. Well, OK, anatomically, then. Genitally?

But the truth is, a job in my chosen line – of being a writer such as those who churn out articles like this – is like living on the edge. From deadline, to deadline. Clever people like you will proclaim, “Life’s like that, what?”

The wiser ones would chip in, “School is meant to prepare you for the dreaded deadline. And deadlines are good because targets must be met.” And to that I would add, “a wholly adult construct”. No wonder then that the wise are usually old. Deadlines can age you. Fast.

Homework, projects, examinations. I am sure you have noticed how they have a tendency to turn days, weeks, and months into semesters, diplomas and degrees. One academic hurdle after another, and before you know it, you are flipping a motar board into the air, even as you yourself are propelled into the rat race. Fast.

I graduated with a degree in the arts. A generalist of sorts, armed to do most things except build something out of sand or metal; cut, stitch and heal body or soul; or even argue in a court of law. And so it came to pass that I would find first employment as an advertising copywriter. This was in the last millennium. The truth is it was a decade and a half before the end of the last, when Lim Kok Wing was still a Mr., not yet institutionalized, and most people weren’t sure exactly what such a job entailed.

For the uninitiated, I choose to repeat or, more aptly, plagiarise, from someone more articulate than I. He was, if memory serves me well, an advertising legend who said, “Copywriters spend ten percent of their time writing, and ninety percent of their time convincing their clients they really can write.”

So, there you go. When I heard it, an epiphany happened. The uninitiated would need to be told that an epiphany is that light-bulb thing you see in comics. Except that this one was in neon tubes that spelt out the following: “Being creative isn’t just about, being creative. You need to be convincing.”

Following that, another thing happened. (Dare I call it a pro-phani-ty?) Coupled like a wonderfully familiar cliché of a metaphor the phrase fell into my cerebral lap: creativity and conviction – they need each other, like, yes, the chicken and the egg. Of course, the second of the couplings we know as the tweedle-dee and tweedle-dum of metaphors.

“But which is which?” did I hear you ask? It doesn’t matter if you get the point.

If it is meant to go anywhere, do anything, or be of any worth, creativity requires conviction. And conviction with creativity rocks. It is as simple as that. Seriously simple. That it takes conviction to motivate, and encourage creativity.

So what really is creativity? Those ideas turned into action that moves things forward. Some are simple, others more complex, each requiring the conviction of time, effort and support.

Creativity usually begins with curiosity. And curiosity often begins with questions. So when two or three or more are gathered in the name of curiosity, asking questions and looking for answers, whether factual or artistic, we should not be afraid. Because, it simply means that creativity is a foot, and that the germination of more ideas is about to occur, and move us forward, as one happy kelompok.

Imagine if Newton had ignored the apple, or Magellan had not bothered what lay beyond the horizon, where might mankind be right now? Not very far from where he first started, right?

Let go further back. If prehistoric man had been cast into a hypnotic spell by the flickering tongues of a flame, and sat rigid not wondering if by its heat he could make his Brontasaurus steak a little more appetizing, could Chef Wan be a celebrity cook today?

Ask? Answer.

Creativity needs conviction. It needs our courage and support, not a tempurung, to flourish fearlessly and constructively.

Imagine? When that happens, everywhere, nations could very well be represented not by armies, but by artists, and rather than fight with each other, we will simply show off our best, creative minds, moving mankind forward in mind, body and soul.

Yes, when that happens – and it can, please: BE CONVINCED – the world will be one great big arts festival.

Yes! Much more enjoyable than what’s going down here on earth and in our land just right now.

So please, someone – set a deadline. Fast.


- THE SHRIMP WARRIOR~ fighting for the ‘lil flings

(Published in WEEKEND MAIL - 28th September 2006)