An Audacity Evaluation
When I started this blog post, I had recently been tasked with writing an “Original Oratory” speech for a class, and I chose the topic: “Audacity”.
This post was initially going to contain my process of brainstorming for that speech, but the semester is now over and I’ve both written and performed the speech. So instead, here is the speech, and afterwards, some relevant thoughts and takeaways.
“I dare you to commit a crime..
But before you do, let me clarify:
I don’t want you to participate in any illegal activities. I want you to do something you feel is socially illegal. Like, compliment someone you wouldn’t normally associate with, say no to an activity so you can catch up on schoolwork, be respectful and attentive during an extremely boring convocation, or, my personal favorite: wear out-of-the-ordinary clothes like neon and sweater vests.
As some unknown, probably important person said: “Audacity is the key to greatness. Without it you’re just… average.” Don’t go commiting crimes, but do go doing things others won’t. It’s how you can make a difference.
With that said, I think audacity is the skill of standing out. It’s not that people learn it, but more often that we lose it as aging brings on the pressures of social lives. We all know of children that have the audacity to draw a scribble with a crayon and call it a “dinosaur” and then go around showing it to everyone like it’s olympic gold. They aren’t ashamed of their hard work, and love to share it.
We lose that audacity when we learn that things are “wrong”. Someone… at some point… tells you that your scribble doesn’t look anything like a dinosaur. They tell you your hard work isn’t as hard worked as someone else’s. You find out that someone will always be better than you at… whatever, and it devastates you. We learn to hold back because all of a sudden we care more about other people’s approval than we do our own enjoyment.
First and foremost in our older lives is that loss of social audacity. Often it’s for the better, preventing us from making unnecessary scenes in public places, and saying things we may later regret. But the lack also crushes creativity. It stops us from doing new things- things that could improve the world. Because we are too scared to fail. We’re too scared someone might laugh. If comedians can admired for anything- it’s just that. They make careers out of their social audacity.
However, you can be socially audacious and still a quiet person. Audacity doesn’t always correlate with loudness. What it does mean though, is that a sure belief will overcome any fear of being the center of attention. For example: if an audacious person wants to stand for something, like how amazing cardboard is, or how great the game bananagrams is, or how cargo pants are the superior pants, they will stand for it, and be unashamed of doing so. Think: each audacious person is running their own ad campaign instead of buying into any of mass media’s.
I would love to meet Robert Rauschenberg. Or rather, I would love to meet anybody who has the audacity to become famous for a blank canvas. So many people have such strong feelings against what seems like an utter lack of effort. But Robert was bold enough not to care. He created a piece of art that looked like he didn’t do anything. He accepted the criticism and moved on. He thumbed his nose at convention, per say, by challenging the saying “art is in the eye of the beholder” by making the whole piece up to the beholder.
Audacity in art is apparent in hundreds of ways. Namely, literally any unique art style, since the artist couldn’t possibly know if it would be marketable until trying. Think: Dr. Seuss, Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dali. Most well-known artists aren’t well-known because their work fit the standard well, but because it stood out well.
That’s what you have to do: try, and be willing to fail. But NOT willing to give up. The artists were told they would fail. Plenty of times. But did they?
I have a challenge for you: don’t look around at other peoples’ reactions before formulating your own. Don’t let someone tell you your dinosaur isn’t a dinosaur. If you stand out enough, people around you will start to accept that as simply who you are. They’ll start to admire, instead of criticize, your dinosaur because unlike their’s, at least your dinosaur is happy.
There will always be comments. But twisting hate into love is a skill to be mastered. Next time somebody says something less-than-nice to you, say “thank you” right back with a smile in a genuinely nice tone (it doesn’t work with sarcasm or anger). Trust me when I say, even if they don’t change right away, the response will make them think. It may just help them realize how much better compliments are than their usual duche remarks.
Audacity is more than just speech though, it’s also about actions. Having a positive attitude all the time isn’t normal. But it should be. When doing anything, we should do it with a positive attitude. This means: not grumbling about assignments, taking down the laundry with joy, and happily listening to music while doing the dishes. Likewise, instead of cussing out rivals, we should compliment them on their achievements. If we as society put as much energy into loving others as we now do hating others, the change would surpass imagination.
I think we should start with the audacity to wear neon for fun. If someone comments on it, tell them a clean joke, compliment them, make them smile.
We need to stop thinking about other people’s opinions, and start thinking about the positive change we can make on the world if we just go ahead and do it. Audaciously.”
Why I can be Audacious
Events of my childhood led me to understand very early on that I have it good. I am the lucky one. With two loving parents, a full stomach, blessed mind, creative joy, and (I like to think) a decent sense of humor, I really am free of worry. This freedom allows me to stand out.
While some may seek the approval of peers or parents, I know my parents support me no matter what, and my peers will grow past their judgemental ways. Because of my safety net at home, I am able to explore creative endeavors most children and teens wouldn’t risk social wrath attempting. I wrote books, made merchandise, and started a craft club in fifth grade themed around my stuffed animal “Moosey”, and continued it in sixth grade until I moved away for seventh. I moved to a school without double-advanced math, so I was thrust in with the grade above, setting me out as the “smart math kid”, but really I was just a bit more priveledged. I accepted the title, and worked with it. As I’ve had on repeat in my head: “it is what it is”. That title separated me enough to not worry about fitting in- it wasn’t even an option.
By now, I’m really not sure what my peers refer to me as- I’ve tried so many different things. I joined FFA, Science Olympiad, Swimming, Tennis and Girl’s Tennis Managing, Theater, Choir, Academic Super Bowl, Spelling Bowl, the School Art and Writing Publication, and Key Club (and that’s just with my school). I also work at a library and started my own art blog (shocker). Personality-wise I joke at everything and still focus enough to have a perfectionist’s mindset. I’ll correct a teacher but keep a secret, I’ll drive you home but won’t go to the football game, I’ll sing “Let it Go” at the top of my lungs, but prefer to watch the rest of the movie in silence. I’m social but avoid social life. (I have no conclusion for this paragraph because I too am unaware of an singularly accurate descriptor.)
Social Audacity…
…basically means to not give a- (let me reword:) It means to not care what others think. Not to mind if their morals align differently, and to still stand by yours no matter the circumstances. It means to refrain from giving in to social pressures, and to not be afraid of standing out.
In my speech I refer to a crayon-scribbled dinosaur. When we are kids it is so easy to be proud of our hard work. We draw that dinosaur lickety-split and show it off “like it’s olympic gold”, proud as all get-out. But at some point, someone tells us our dinosaur looks weird, should be drawn with a different color, or should be “like this”… and we’re stupid enough to listen to that. Too often people stop trying to improve their dinosaur or be content with their dinosaur, and they start to resent their own dinosaur because of other people’s influence.
To extend the metaphor, people have “dinosaurs” for all kinds of things. Their looks, their actions, and their hobbies, to name a few. Because this is an art blog though, I’m going to address the artsy dinosaur.
The Artsy Dinosaur
While trying not to rant about social media and how it alone kills more dinosaurs than any other source (I can think of)… I’ll say a little about my recent experiences.
I like to think I protect my uniqueness with a firm hand. I hand out business cards without remorse, recently finished releasing a hundred cardboard heads with QR codes into the world, and try to share even my less-than-perfect creations with others somehow. But doubt is still consistent. I mention social media because on the platforms there are incredible artists. and I mean incredible artists. I know I’m capable of a lot, and if I worked as hard as each of them had I could probably do it too… but I can never be as good as all of them at everything. I’ll never do flawless realism graphite and stippling pen work and automaton creations and woodworking and pottery and quilting and crocheting and drawing and metalworking and glass working and and and and and. Never. I can’t do everything. All I can work on is my own dinosaur. Whether it sticks with cardboard, or expands to other sculpture or design or art mediums, is up to the future. There’s no way of knowing what I’ll become. But the attitude I maintain through it all is up to me.
The audacity of my dinosaur is up to me.
