Authenticity Always Wins: How to Find Your Creative Palate Without Being a Follower
Written by Crystal Joy
I love everything about art.
Galleries, the movies, dance, theater, music, indie films -- I’m inspired by it all. When I first started making films, I was uncertain about the road ahead. After making my first short film, I questioned my ability to create another. I’m in a better place of clarity and confidence now, but it took a while to get there. Along this journey, I've been able to meet artists all over the world and have noticed a few things in those encounters. (This doesn’t apply to an entire collective body, but it’s something worth writing about.)
Hollywood has served its purpose in my creative journey. However, it loves remakes, sequels, trilogies and recycling the same old narratives, which I believe bleeds into other levels of the creative sphere. Too often I've witnessed artists wanting to mimic what they see other artists doing. There's this idea that you can "make someone else's idea my own" or, do something in the “likeness of” another artist to garner success.
I question that thought. Are you really inspired or flat out copying? Do you believe your ideas are not good enough?
When we are too focused on the next person’s success, it's no longer an inspiration. It is a distraction from our own work. I've experienced this in my career with other people blatantly telling me they wanted to "steal my idea" or they wanted to do the exact concept I was doing. But, why do that? Why not create from a place of pure authenticity and revelations from your own life? I'm so influenced and motivated by the contributions of other artists and their delivery, I cannot lie about that. I also appreciate others being inspired by the work I've done. It’s made me feel extremely proud and appreciated. Yet, there is a fine line between creativity and inspiration. Recycled ideas are the karma of creativity. However, if you’re too focused on other people’s grass, you will only head down a path of frustration, jealousy, and insecurity –– not self-discovery.
My aha moment came when I read Elizabeth Gilbert’s Big Magic (author of Eat, Pray, Love) where she writes about ideas as a living entity. Her theory is that ideas need to be communicated and collaborated through a person so they can be manifested. Gilbert states:
When an idea thinks it has found somebody – say, you – who might be able to bring it into the world, the idea will pay you a visit. It will try to get your attention. Mostly, you will not notice. This is likely because you’re so consumed by your own dramas, anxieties, distractions, insecurities, and duties that you aren’t receptive to inspiration.
Everything clicked for me after reading that.
I don't want my ideas and voice to be overpowered by the need to be like the next person or the negative voices in my head that make me question my worth. When we become a society of repeats, we lose our originality. The gifts that set us apart become muddled in stagnation. We will always be inspired by each other –– it’s inevitable when it comes to making art. But your success story is in the pain and triumphs you’ve experienced. Your internal motivation is derived from the world that you live in and the world that is around you. Look within for the refreshing stories that you’ve buried deep down, aching to be told. Your ideas are valuable. Your story is worth it. Simply believe it.
Author Bio
Crystal Joy moved to New York City from Chicago, IL with a degree in Journalism and a minor in Marketing from Loyola University Chicago-shortly after her move she immediately began acting classes at HB Studios and expanded to Stella Adler, Lucid Body, and joined the theater company, Theater of A New Generation. Her love of storytelling has given her access to work not only as an actress but as a writer and producer. Some of Crystal’s theater credits include the Off-Broadway productions Dead End, The Cherry Orchard, and 12 Angry People. Her film endeavors include Era, Revolt, Dog Days, and the dramatic feature The Dirty Kind. She also wrote, starred in and executive produced Crumble, The Woe Chronicles, and Behind The Silence which she co-directed. Additionally, Ms. Joy received her first TV credit on the Investigation Discovery channel’s re-enactment crime show, Shadow of Doubt. Crystal has a shared love for acting, producing and writing and as she progresses in her work she continues to excel in her versatility with a range of character roles as well as finding new platforms to deliver her projects.