CONCEPT

More and more lately i have been interested in the idea of things, the concepts
behind art, writing, movies, ect.
I used to be a totally visual person, impressed by all the latest effects or the
most realistic rendering.. the fanciest and most detailed was the best. I was in
love with works like Akira, Star Wars, and any Disney film just for the raw visual
depth of it all. These days i find myself reading comics about talking stickfigures
and laughing my ass off.. enjoying them as much if not more than my old detailed
favorites.
Im picking up books, movies, music and comics these days that are more based in concept
than anything else.. and trying to apply that to my own work as well. Concept can be a 
weird thing, a totally basic idea can intrigue even the most complex minds and yet a fully
developed and deep idea can do the same. Just like visual art there are many forms of ideas
and storytelling, ranging from the most abstract to the most intentional classic structures,
like a childs drawing compared to a floorplan of the empire state building.

Ive heard many people say that there is nothing new.. "its all been done before" , ect. and
there is some truth to that, yet i do believe that there are still an infinite amount of
combinations that have not been tapped. The roots of every story can always be found in 
another piece of work, as we are all fated to reproduce the ideas and concepts that we absorb
from the world around us. As humans we start as empty shells, and begin taking in knowledge
from an early age, in which we finaly amass enough, and that knowledge combined with our own
personal set of circumstances, upbringing, education, interests, phobias, and are defined as
an individual. Very young children have very few behaviorial differences,, you can easily
define them as "quiet" or "active" but basically they fall into much broader groups than say,
the teenage or the adult populace.
Now these defining ideas and concepts that make us who we are, are generally the concepts
that reflect in our creative process as well. So are we doomed to basically rehash every
story we saw or read as a child till current? No. This is where the combinations idea comes
into play.. combinations of ideas that have inspired you deeply, mixed with your own personal
experience always lead us to new territory.
I believe that even if we TRIED to make an exact copy of a story or concept that had inspired
us, inevitably, the infinite combinations of your own experience would eventually kick in
and you would end up with something original. (not necessarily BETTER, as we have all seen the
lousy and often brain damaging remake of a movie or song, or even comic)

In this age where CG and compters allow almost any visual or musical effect to be achieved easier 
and easier, I believe the concept of a piece of given art is becoming more crucial. I think we
as artists are looked upon to blaze those new trails.. to find those original combinations.
Before you start a new story.. illustration.. poem.. whatever, think about the idea for a bit.
what are you trying to say? has it been said before? and if so.. what new spin are you bringing to
it? My only advice, is to make sure there is as much YOU in there as possible. We are all 
individuals, but all victims to the human condition as well. No matter what part of your life
you choose to let influence your work.. be it your joy or your sadness, other people out there
WILL relate. kinda like some cheesy movie theme.. "the key to your success lies within you" uhhg.


Art is life.. Life is art.. or something like that @w@

-L0cke                                                August 13 / 2000