The Power of Looking, Seeing, and Creating as an Artist

Dear Real Academics,

When my husband was in graduate school, he took a course in the Department of Visualization at Texas A&M University. One of the course topics was about the difference between "looking" and "seeing". I am NO expert, but my understanding of this distinction is that "looking" is a physical act and "seeing" is a mental process of perception.

I was reminded of the existence of this conceptual distinction when my husband and I watched a movie based on the life of Louis Wain this weekend (The Electrical Life of Louis Wain on Amazon Prime with Benedict Cumberbatch in the lead role). 

I knew little to nothing about Louis Wain. In a nut shell, I learned how Wain used his creative drawing ability to bring life and humor to readers through drawing cats. He also helped people in Victorian England warm up to the idea of keeping cats as pets (nice!). In the film, Louis' wife at one point compliments him for his ability to "look" at life and, implicitly, "see" beauty as an artist (a lot of the cinematography focuses on the seeing, though the word is "look" in the film). If you watch the film, you'll also learn that a lot of the beauty came from deep pain and darkness, but I won't say more.

In a historical time when things are becoming increasingly and almost unbearably divisive and dark against anyone and everyone who thinks differently than the mainstream (i.e., thinking for yourself), I find this idea of looking to find beauty and seeing beauty simultaneously uplifting and convicting. 

How can we, as researchers, writers, and/or creatives, find the beauty at the present time and do something with that to instigate positive change?

I leave you with this question to formulate your own answer. May you be brave to use your gifts and talents to shed some light, uplift a soul, and/or cause a positive change opposite of where things are headed in our country and world.

Until next time, keep on writing,

Maggie

www.therealacademics.com 

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