To Whom Do I Sing, and Why?
To Whom Do I Sing, and Why?
Vocation as an Alternative to Self-Expression
The motivations of artists are traditionally considered primarily through the lens of their own desires for self-expression. This common perception is actually a product of romanticism, and it fails to give full attention to the variety of factors that motivate the creation and performance of art. The language of vocation offers an alternative to accounts that focus exclusively on self-expression, encouraging students to think about how their artistic energies can be shaped in ways that are faithful to, and in the service of, their audiences. Instead of creating and performing art for the purpose of eliciting strong emotional responses, artists can think in more focused ways about the meaning and context of their art-making, and consider the degree to which it functions as a response to the material order. An approach focused on vocation can liberate artists, as well as their audiences.
Keywords: vocation, calling, performing arts, musical performance, music education, creativity, college arts programs, self-expression in art, Romanticism in art
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