what it means to be an artist

[deanmoriarty77]

 I really do miss writing.  Aristotle said of drama that it's an imitation of life where the characters are exaggerations of real people.  I miss taking scenarios from my life, or fantasies from my daydreams, and manipulating them like clay into grotesque caricatures of reality.

Looks like we owe the gubmint a mighty sum of money thanks to student

Comments

Higher education

[catpressedjeenz]

I think you're doing the right thing. I was so naive in college that I could not have cared less about those letters behind my name. I was there to study art, not earn degrees. Whether or not that was a mistake is up for debate but I do know this; it made my life a lot harder.

Those letters will open doors that would otherwise remain closed. I'm not setting your career path for you but just imagine teaching college level courses to people that actually want to be there! Man, that would be like heaven compared to teaching disinterested teenagers in public schools; not to mention that you'd probably work close to half as long for twice as much and leaving you more time to get published.

Re: Higher education

[deanmoriarty77]

Dale, you and i are most definitely cut from the same cloth. I feel exactly the same way about degrees and such. I don't care about having an "M.A." behind my name... i just want to become a more confident, more capable writer.

As for teaching at the college level, you're not the first person to suggest that i do so. I suppose i would indeed be dealing with less resistant students, but, as much as i complain about my teenagers, their reluctance and resistance are the reasons i chose to teach high school. There's nothing like hearing a student tell me that they hated me on the first day but loved me on the last. And more than the "feather in the cap," i want to be the kind of teacher that i was lucky enough to have -- the kind who showed me what i was capable of, the kind that pushed me, the kind that didn't tolerate my bullshit. I couldn't care less if a student likes me; i just want to push my students to greatness and self-reliance.

Re: Higher education

[catpressedjeenz]

I understand about the kids thing. I'm sure that is very gratifying.