By Frankie Shayne
Reports from the Scene
Have you ever just looked around and wondered how you got where you’re at?
Of course, we all come from different situations and backgrounds, but the fact is we are products of our upbringing 95% of the time. The reason I say 95%is because, regardless of how we are brought up, we can choose a different path.
My columns have primarily been about artistry and music in the local scene, but I think there’s something that goes much deeper. I believe it’s that sense of community, of belonging and that wanting to be a part of all of those things.
However, there is that one segment of people that choose to be something different: artists, creators, musicians. Regardless of the “canvas” they choose, they are the ones that continually choose the path less traveled. Now, this is not a piece simply on standing out from the crowd or trying to be the odd man out, but rather those who naturally find that creativity offers a bit of individualism for the person that they may have otherwise not been afforded.
The artistic community as a whole tends to be more forgiving, and people are applauded for their creativity and their differences. No one likes a copy cat. However, creativity within that individualism comes at a price when you do something completely off the norm. It’s often misunderstood, and because it’s misunderstood, it can also be underappreciated.
I guess my point is, why strive to always be like everyone else? Why strive to just fall in line? I know some people do it because it is an easier way to gain a sense of family and belonging because it’s the easiest way to assimilate into social belonging.
But I, being someone who loves to create and do things differently, have always shied away from that concept. I’m very much an extrovert, but a lot of artists and creative thinkers are cerebral or solitary individuals. Regardless of where we are on the social spectrum, an individual can be creative, different, and perhaps even controversial in your medium and you can still walk your own path.
n today’s “age of the digital” and the growing concern over AI becoming more of a threat to people’s creative mindset, I’ve come to even more so appreciate those who do something different to stand apart and create for the sake of creation and expression, and not just to make a quick buck, or just to take someone else’s “viral” moment and milk it as their own. So when it comes to artists, whether it be painting, sculpting, written word, music, or any other form of creative mediums and their use of expression to convey a work I can appreciate it even more today than I used to.
I guess what I’m trying to say is it’s OK to be different. It’s OK to be misunderstood. Be true to who you are, be true to the gift you’ve been given. Don’t be afraid, it’s part of the process. Not everyone is going to “get it,” and that’s part of the process too, but those who connect with you and what you create will make a community of the kind of like-minded people who appreciate your art for what it is and appreciate you as an artist. Community and family and belonging is not always found in the obvious places, but trust me you’re not alone.
My personal experience is that people are more forgiving than we often give them credit for, but regardless acceptance is still there even when you’re into something a little different.
However, there is a fine line between relating to people and doing something new or that isn’t the popular option. You don’t have to walk that line, but you don’t have to avoid the line either. That’s the beauty of art and expression and individualism, it is only confined by the imagination of its originator. So be proud to be different, be proud to be yourself and don’t be afraid to express yourself through whatever art form you choose. It’s a freeing feeling to not be confined by fear of rejection or give in to the pressure of trying to fit in. Let your freak flag fly, or whatever the appropriate expression should be.
Frankie Shayne is a radio show host, a local singer/songwriter, and an advocate for local artists and musicians. He can be reached at fsp7774@gmail.com.