A place for artists in the new republic
-
Peace all,
I have been lurking on and off on the forum for a few years now and never felt the need to participate. Ive read many a thread and article on these pages and it has all helped me to reach an understanding about the world around us.
So far, I have not read anything about the day to day lives of you guys that post on here - basically how you contribute to the world with your lives. I feel it is really important to give to other's (charity) with your time and money and it is something I try to do daily, even just remembering to smile at people passing in the street I feel is a good deed in this closed off modern world we live in! I am sure that many on this forum adhere to the same outlook. However, realising that aligning our inner beliefs to our outer actions is of such paramount importance, I have begun to question one area of my life alot recently. And that is of work - how we earn our money, our 'career', something we actually spend a great deal of our day on!
Let me clarify something about myself - ever since I was a young age my two 'passions' have been film and writing. Even clearer - I want to direct films and am on my way to making one, and maybe one day I hope to write the great novel. But in my heart I know that the more humanitarian causes which tug at my soul - such as building an orphanage, working with grass-roots NGO's, are clearly closer to the aim of striving towards God. God willing I will one day achieve these but I guess the question Im asking is in the meantime, my dreams of making films or writing a novel, are they futile? Can art have a place in the ideal republic, like Plato said ( I think it was Plato ;D) ? Can my impulse to be 'creative' and make my living through these occupations really help me in the only race that matters - the race towards the God? I wonder.
I count myself lucky in the fact that I have never wanted to make pure blockbuster movies, with only the aim of entertaining people. In some way I hope to say something of importance, highlight a society's weaknesses, maybe offer some hope, but even then? Is this really what God meant in striving? Is it a weakened form of striving, is this really on par with someone who is on the ground fighting oppression whereever it may rear it's head? I wonder.
I am at a point in my life where I have been awakened. There is a lot of work to be done I feel in the world around us. Do anyone here feel the same way? Our lives, with their daily trivialities, have become almost comical. I see people around me so happy that they got that raise, or they bought a new car, or have got a new exhibition and are on their way to being a success. I really hope that I never get to the stage where a new car will be a momentous occasion in my life )
But what is to be done? I am quite a way down the path of feeling like my artistic impulses are something valuable - that if played right I could contribute in my own way. But is this wishful thinking? Is my ego so big that I am deluding myself that art can have a role to play in the awakening of people? Is art and the creative impulse in general something innate in us and not some man made innovation to distract ourselves from the path?
Just my two cents. I'd like to know if other people here feel that tug - like to go do something 'really' important and not instead wasting our lives in the merry go round of the world. How do you guys reconciliate your day to day lives with the great aims that the reading teaches us. I'd love to hear, maybe it would help us on our paths towards God.
Peace
Lali
-
Peace lali,
Welcome to the forum. Unfortunately I won't be able to point to any verses in the Quran that may shed light on your question (that would be so cool is someone here could, I have faith). I can however say that I think it's wonderful that you're asking. I too have struggled with this. At this point I feel as though although I would love nothing more than to have every second of my day's and night's filled with good deeds, an ever increasing understanding of AQ, and everything that REALLY matters, I have to pay my bills. Perhaps you're in the same boat, I'm sure most of us are. I think this is where living simply, eliminating unnecessary expenses, etc. serves to free us to strive to make each day as meaningful as possible. Clearly your intention is to be in a place of higher understanding, that's beautiful. I personally feel so fortunate to have been given the opportunity to have my career as a Cosmetologist. It gives me the opportunity to practice art, science and caregiving. Of course there are day's when I get frustrated with those around me who only see the superficial aspects of our trade, but what matters is how I perceive it and how I use my gift to do work that God would approve of. We can only do our best to attain what we feel God is intending for us and ask for forgiveness for not measuring up. We are humans after all, we will always fall short. God bless you lali.
Much peace,
lily -
Peace and welcome p3bbles,
Giving, as you said, can be as simple as a smile. According to the qur'an, we were made different so that we can learn from each other. In that context, understand that some will be more apt and able to give of themselves in their daily lives than others. This does not mean that we are not all capable of contributing in our own ways. Art plays a vital role in human development in the stories it tells and in the inspiration it provides. Not everyone has the wherewithall to be an artist, just as not everyone can be a doctor. Those that can, should. It's my opinion that the things we love to do, the things that make us feel like we're not working but just doing what we love, are the things that should be our career focus. Aside from that, we can always make time to contribute in more tangible ways. In addition, if you do what you love, than that's what you'll be best at, and the chances of your success are much greater. And with that success comes the means to contribute on a larger scale, ie, build an orphanage, etc.
I hope that helps.
Peace,
Tay -
peace,
A few brief points
AQ recommends us not to give (e.g. charity, strive in the cause) in order to show off, so you may wish to factor this into your observations of the forum.
AQ also states clearly in chapter 107 that to acknowledge in the deen/obligation one must go beyond the surface in their deeds, and this relates to my above point.
If one excels at what they do, it is usually because they are doing something they are passionate about or are good at. Why not give it (what your best at) your best shot and see what happens? This could be termed 'self-actualisation' which I'm a big fan of, and so is AQ one could argue.
Of course, one should not spend all their time doing what they want without care of their duties to the world, a balance must be struck. It is up to you to strike that balance, it is part of the test.
AQ advises us that one way to show our true intentions/beliefs is to give out of what we hold dear / love. So, all you need to do is list down what you hold dear / love, what you own that is of most value, it could be time it could be a posession, money etc... then give out of it.
In my opinion, art/creativity/films/music/etc can definitely play a positive role, it just depends how they are used. As long as your intentions and goal are sincere it will show through your work, so I wouldn't really worry about that aspect unless you doubt your intentions
-
Peace Lali
Actually i experienced the same thing the last few months. I usually do not tell to much about my interests or my private life, because i like things to come out as a surprise. But what i can tell you is that i'm an artist myself. Not profesional or member of some official music group, but individually. I have never given out any songs or been in a music video. Anyway, I was in the same stage that you was in, and i the same worries came too me also. I was spending to much time on my music, and instead of being a hobby it was almost taking my all my time. This was not how it started dough. I always knew that i have something powerful to contribute when it comes to music, and that i have lots of messages to send out. But the last few months, something just felt wrong.
because of my music, I was doing bad at school, and all i was thinking about was music. The music i made wasn't how i wanted it to be as i intended anymore. I had started making songs for entertainment and not for a purpose, and i didn't have a message in it as i wanted it to have. I knew something was right, especially since i read the quran less, almost only once a week. I came to realize that i was going after my desires, and that i didn't had a balance when it came to music. At the worst i was working with music for more than 4 hours a day, and i was considering to buy music equipment for more than 2000 dollars, was going to learn to play 2 new instruments when i hardly had time for what i'm already working with, and i had almost quited exercising and socialising. Sometimes i skipped meals just to work with music. But thank god, i came back on track. And i learned from my mistakes. I remember i read the quran, and everytime i read it more, the more i could see my faults, and then suddenly i opened my eyes and quit to use so much time on the music. If i hadn't started to read the quran continually again and if i had not remembered the verse in Quran that says that some people take there desires as god, by other words idolizes their desires, then maybe i would have continued in a destructive path.
When we do arts, we need have a balance between the hobby and the other important things in our life, and if we do it for a purpose, for example by having a message in it about religion, or gods system, or like a motivational message for self-improvement, or a message where we expose the lies of the society, or bust myths, or a knowledgefull message that enlighten people. As long as we keep this things mentioned above in mind when working with arts, it can actually be a great way to give or contribute in the quranic way. But we must be aware, because satan tries to interfere, or take us away from our intended paths in arts, and take us away from our purposes in the arts. Today i set a couple of ours every week for my music, and i always put it seconday, and not as a first priority.
My english ain't as good as yall americans by the way. i must get a better vocabulary, and work more on my english. So if you see many faults in my writings, just ignore it. ;D
Peace and Respect David
-
It's actually wery easy to see the different between good and evil arts. Not nessecary evil, but at least destructive and bad for the individuals and the society.
Below i'm going to show the 2 main different type of arts and which type of arts which is constructive, good and changes the world, and which type of arts that is only a waste, is destructive, and is garbage, and is unmoral and does not contribute to anyting but misery and lostness.
Garbage arts that does is destructive to the society and individuals, and that only misguide
Eminem
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=OBFdr1EyShgFergie
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=er3Uzdevgno50 cent
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=lAweKqxLGScInspirational, motivational, life-changing, moral, Truthgiving, and great arts
2pac
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=HfXwmDGJAB82pac
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=qzNWAjKiAPY&feature=relatedDead prez
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=nEaKk4rhIeoImmortal technique
http//www.youtube.com/watch?v=ntQfkc7DRsYIf we compare the good and the destructive songs i've showed you above, we can easily expose, and easily see the difference between art which is done for a purpsose and message, and art which is done only to misguide and for its economical gains. The songs from 2pac, dead prez, and immortal technique are some of my favorite songs by the way. These songs are true hiphop, not like those fake mainstream shake that ass, or money bullshit songs.
Peace and Respect david
