20. Big Angry Energy

Making Artists

In this episode of "Making Artists," we dive into the complex and often misunderstood emotion of anger. This episode centers on embracing and understanding anger as a natural part of the human and artistic experience.

Anger, is often seen as a negative emotion—something to be suppressed or avoided. This perspective can be particularly harmful to artists who might feel compelled to wait until they are no longer angry before engaging in their creative practices. This avoidance only reinforces the belief that anger is unproductive and wrong, potentially leading to feelings of guilt and shame.

Throughout the episode, I share observations about how people typically handle their anger. Some common reactions include isolation to protect others from their anger, numbing or distracting themselves with various activities, and misdirecting their anger towards safer targets. These methods often fail to address the root cause of anger, leaving the underlying issues unchanged.

The episode highlights the importance of integrating anger into one's creative practice rather than excluding it. By doing so, artists can produce more authentic and complete works. For instance, actress Anya Taylor-Joy's advocacy for expressing female rage in her roles serves as a powerful example of how bringing anger into art can resonate deeply with audiences and challenge prevailing norms.

A recent example of an artist channeling anger into their work is rapper Macklemore, who created a song inspired by student protests demanding divestment from Israel. By expressing his anger through music and directing proceeds to support Palestinian refugees, Macklemore demonstrates how anger can drive impactful artistic and political actions.

The episode is a call to recognize and harness anger as a powerful and valid emotion. I encourage you to incorporate your anger into your creative processes and everyday lives, transforming it from a source of shame into a catalyst for change and expression. So artists, what are you mad about? And can you use that powerful emotion to create?

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Music credit: Positive Experience by Sunny Tones

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