Doing the work to the best of your ability and letting it stand on its own is a difficult task. We would rather give some kind of pre-emptive qualifier to distance ourselves from the work in case it doesn’t go over well.
Upon turning in his paper the student tells his professor, “It’s not my best paper; I’ve been swamped with other coursework but here you go”. Or just before the unveiling the sculptor tells her critic, “It’s not my favorite piece; I rushed things a bit, but here it is”.
This kind of commentary gives us the feeling of safety. If the work is not well received, at least we identified it first; a sign of a high achiever. If the work is well received, then we come across as humble and modest. Either way, we feel like we're safe. Yet in reality, this couldn’t be further from the truth.
Pre-emptive qualifiers are dangerous to you and to your art.
Pre-emptive qualifiers are fueled by the desire to be liked; the need for approval. Its primary concern is constructing and protecting an image. In providing us cover to hide behind we no longer have to pay attention to the harsh reality: maybe we’re not as good as we think we are or maybe we are.
I’m not sure which is more terrifying.
Try submitting your next assignment without any additional commentary. Allow the work to stand on its own and listen to what it teaches you.
1 comment:
so true. I've been guilty of this so many times I can't even count. Good reminder, friend.
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