The writer is mistaken in assuming that he will transform his art by living the same mediocre life indefinitely. It is good to have no more than a corner to write in and, temporarily, that is enough. It is also good to stick to and get used to what is strictly necessary in order, above all, to distinguish it. But for there to be a transformation in art, and for it to be true, it must also take place in life, because therein lie the circumstances that will motivate his work, unless he betrays himself. It is therefore necessary to make an effort to modify and shape the whole of reality, as far as his strength allows; and if this does not produce satisfactory results, it will be from his conscious struggle that the best of his motivation will emerge.
Tag: literature
The Noblest Task of Literary Critics…
The noblest task of literary critics is to correct the shoddy work of critics from previous generations. This includes judging with the necessary distance for good judgment, undoing undeserved exaltations and repairing regrettable injustices. From this we can see that it is more than prudent for the critic, as it is for the historian, to establish a timeline beforehand that delimits the subject he will be working on: a cold, rigid and impartial line, exactly as the critics he will have to correct lacked.
It Takes a While for an Artist to Discover…
It takes a while for an artist to discover that the best art he can make is that which is most intimate, most genuinely his own, and not the most acclaimed by the critics. It takes a while because, to the beginner, the idea that he should strive for authenticity will seem nonsensical, when he is a beginner and therefore has to learn and find himself. That is why imitation, to a greater or lesser extent, is a natural and fruitful path. But there comes a time when practice sufficiently highlights what is and is not one’s own. Then it also becomes clear that imitation, if anything, is a stepping stone to great art, and that this can only be done with the substance of what most stirs the individual conscience.
It Should Be Enough for Man…
It should be enough for man to be certain that it is possible to sit down alone and experience a different reality from the outside world through letters, so that his spirit can detach itself from the anguish it may generate. Once one understands how far one can go through the mind, the exuberance of possibilities becomes a powerful respite from the frustration caused by the urgencies, needs and ties of the material world.