over and over; again and again

A dear friend of mine shared a tumblr post with me:

We'd both recently had the realisation, as most artists do... You figured out a self-tell. And you're not happy about it!! UGH I'm telling the same story... AGAIN!! How dare you have themes you come back to, be effected by something so much that it's repeated, over and over again?

Isn't that the point?

I'd like to think I can tell any sort of story. I'll zig when you think I'll zag. It's the contrarian teenager in me. I think my work all stand on their own, but at their core, they're not very different at all. I write about being lonely, the simple want for human connection and getting in over your head. I like art with complex themes, but for my own, I keep it rather simple. But you'd have a completely different take on it, wouldn't you? You're not me. I can't tell you what to think or feel about my work. You bring your own life story to the table. That's where the magic happens! Can we connect?

My issue when it comes to this isn't the "being perfect" part. That has nothing to do with it for me. Perfection doesn't exist. But the want does.

I don't like people thinking that they could know me. I don't like when people make assumptions about me through my work. It's why I refuse to do so myself about other artists. It's a dumb game to play.

I guess it's the chip on my shoulder. I dislike people who think they're smart (which is what a lot of modern day "criticism" boils down to). Like... Meet the artist! Try to understand them! I hate instant dismissal, or an rejection of someone's work because you think they're coming from a "bad" angle.

I have a want to try and control how people see me. I guess this might be related to how much I hate being misunderstood. But... I must make peace with people making assumptions about me. If you've ever gotten a weirdly invasive ask or comment... you know what I mean lol

My promise to you, is I'll never stop making cringefail women and their serious little weirdos... Another one. Play the track back...

--xoxo becky