Having a Space Where Art Can Occur is not only true in the living space, but it’s also true in the workspace. Again, art needs a space where it can occur. It’s very difficult for art to occur when there is tension, divisiveness, third-party gossip and a poor work ethic. If you’re working on a set, you want to make sure that you bring your best effort. You also want to ensure others bring their best effort, too. According to American anthropologist Ralph Linton, “All human beings live as members of organized groups and have their fate inextricably bound up with that of the group to which they belong.” If you accept that theory, you realize that human beings are a product of the group they are in, and therefore subject to the conditions of that group. If you think about the family dynamic you grew up in, you can see that you are a product of its culture. You spend much of your life trying to work through the casting and influences of that dynamic.
What do I mean by one’s casting? Let me use mine as an example. Starting at the age of six, my group was composed of my single mother and sister three years younger than me. In that group, I was cast as the hero because I was the male child and an athlete, so I was looked up to by a lot of people. I was the caretaker because I acted as a surrogate husband and father. And often, I was also the scapegoat because, as the oldest child, everything that went wrong was deemed my fault. I worked hard to understand those casting traits and how they affect me to this day, and it’s truly a continual work in progress. Especially the caretaking part. To create a Space Where Art Can Occur, I have to understand how my caretaking can be an asset or a liability, especially as a teacher. It’s also important to recognize that despite your trappings, you are 100 percent responsible for every group you’re a part of. Therefore, you’re not relegated to the lower conditions that might affect the group. You can also improve the conditions of your group.
Over the years, just about everything I’ve ever done has been a part of a group of one kind or another. I’ve been a part of sports groups. I played football, basketball and baseball. Now, I’m an excellent golfer. I was a medic in Vietnam. I was part of a group that originated the drug education, training, treatment and aftercare program for the National Basketball Association. I’ve done over 200 films, television shows and theatrical productions. I was on a plane where a group of 51 people were involved in a plane crash. I can’t think of a single thing we do in life as individuals where, at the end of the day, we don’t wind up being part of a group. One of the most important things that I’ve learned is that the fate of that group is determined by the sickest member. I’ve seen it time and again. For instance, in the drug treatment world, an alcoholic or a drug addict has a direct effect on everyone around them. The addict is addicted to the substance, but the family, friends and coworkers are, without realizing it, addicted to the addict. The condition of all of their lives is lowered to some degree. Usually, an intervention is the most effective way of confronting the situation, especially if the addict’s life is out of control.
As a teacher, I have taught rooms with a hundred students or more at a time and seminars with several hundred participants. All it takes is one person who engages in third-party chatter to affect the energy and vibe in the room. If that person is not handled, then the quality of the work or the effectiveness of the group can go down. Creating a Space Where Art Can Occur requires carefully considering the surrounding conditions.
Call to Action:
What areas of your life do you need to create a better space for your art to occur? Home, office, car, bedroom, neighborhood, city? Pick a place to start, and dive in today.
