February 2005
From childhood, we've been taught that anger is a human weakness and for some, even a sin. We've learned about all the evils of anger, how it clouds our judgment, the disastrous consequences of its eruption, and the regret that follows its passing. Conversely, from an early age, we were informed of the virtues of compromise and a conciliatory nature. The calm acceptance and condescension. And all of this is generally correct and true. The only difference is that the exclusion of one category of emotions in favor of another is often harmful, as it is known that evil contains good within it, but clinging to the good can also be another aspect of evil.
These thoughts have been swirling in my mind, and as the years pass, I strive to lead myself to achieve absolute tolerance and understanding, thus eradicating my youthful anger. However, there are times, and they are many, when I feel that anger can be a fertile and salvatory emotion, capable of keeping my defenses alert against a society, and especially against its artistic part, that exploits social politeness and proper tolerance to impose mediocrity and insincerity. Accommodation and compromise easily fall into the realm of social transaction. Perhaps then, an anger that simmers controlled and does not affect judgment nor becomes the purpose of our reactions, can enable us to declare that "the emperor has no clothes" when we see him as such. After all, the innocence of childhood, which gives the courage to proclaim what one sees, as the little girl from Andersen's fairy tale, is lost over the years, and perhaps fruitful anger is what can restore the power of honesty.
Social politeness and tolerance are dangerous when they muzzle honesty and negate consistency. And then, almost without exception, they lead to a lukewarm compromise, always benefitting the mediocre. Indeed, how can we support those who have sacrificed much to invest exclusively in their artistic work, against those who invest in everything in order to gain (safely) a lot? How will our praise be believable when social politeness imposes it everywhere?
Let's trust our artistic judgment or even our ignorance. Let's react honestly whenever we dislike something or it leaves us indifferent, especially more vigorously when the work being promoted betrays in our eyes as a product of sloppiness, insincerity, half-knowledge, and pretense. On the contrary, let's express with passion and intensity our support whenever an artist, (old or contemporary) and their work earn our admiration. Our praise should no longer be confused with social politeness and "civilized" tolerance. This way, we will succeed in supporting the sincere artist, enhancing their audience, and denouncing prevailing mediocrity.
Plato Rivellis