by Ji Strangeway, USA. Cross posted at www.proteji.com
Today, there is a falsehood that says, “nothing is new under the sun.”
But without newness, every child would look the same and every crop that replicates would never provide nourishment. There could be no argument that the birth of anything is old news and done before. The illusion that nothing is ever new must be overcome—because the nature of Creativity is that it is always new—and it is always new when it appears the first time.
By saying that “nothing is new under the sun,” this paradigm has granted us permission to copy, and to me, an artist that copies is a copy-artist. This is where the dividing line between artists that are purveyors of death and lovers of life begin.
Art Films have a tough time in the marketplace. But this does not mean it has no value. It is quite the opposite.
In the business climate or market of film, the film world and even film festivals, it is non-conducive to create films that distributors are unable to describe or to sell. Yet the antithetical nature of Art—is that it is impossible to sell Art or even describe it, as it is impossible to sell Soul.
It’s for this reason that it takes many years until a vision becomes assimilated into mass consciousness that society begins to see the potentiality of a concept—to either market and make money or embrace as something new.
Newness—which is the avant-garde—is threat to modern society, particularly a materialistic ones. The avant-garde is all about “newness.”
The fear of newness is based on the commodity and the propaganda perpetuated to keep minds in a trance to spend dollars on “more of the same.” That’s usually why art should be made only by artists…because buyers and shoppers do not have any concept—nor should they have any control—over what newness is.
In a commercialized culture, there is no such thing as Alternative, New, or Art Films. It is a dead concept (lacks market value) because it’s easier to manipulate money and control of people, education, popular culture and influence of aesthetics through product management based on perceived—rather than true—value (Advertisement). The reality of this however, is not entirely bleak. Anything antithetical to Art (or Truth) will reach its peak and starts to fold…it cannot stand up to the test of time. Nothing can stop people from seeking freshness because Newness is life…even as people are often sold on so-called “newness.” It is a matter of awakening.
To show something new does not mean that you have to be different. Newness does not mean a cold shell in an art installation where you stare at a speck until your eyes bleed. It has to be functional and house the human: Soul. Newness is how you can regenerate the truth to make it living again. It has to have life. It cannot just be mental or visually aesthetic.
About Ji Strangeway
Ji Strangeway is an avant-garde filmmaker and writer. Her work focuses on female and lesbian erotica. Her films include Mystery’s Choir, L.A./love actually(.), and We Come From Other Worlds. She lived in New York, Vietnam and is based in Los Angeles. Her films can be previewed at: www.proteji.com
