The Myth of Talent
There are too many variables involved in the processes and events related to achieving success. My original intention for this post was to put together two variables: talent and hard work. Specially for artists it seems like these two are either a blessing or a frustration. However, after consideration I decided to focus on the myth of talent by itself instead. Next post I can concentrate in the myth of hard work because each one of these two elements deserve their own discussion.
What is talent? According to the dictionary, talent is “a marked innate ability, skill, aptitude or faculty“. In other words, you do something right naturally. We know that talent by itself is not enough to grant you success in most cases. Talent requires for us to work on it, learn and perfect what we naturally do. I’ve been drawing since I was 4 years old but if I didn’t practice and learned new things I could be probably drawing the same way I did back then. I’m pretty sure my drawing skills changed with time and practice. I’m pretty sure that since my first sculpture in 1997 my natural ability has changed because I’ve been practicing and learning. The innate ability is important for sure but if we love it and want to be better at it we need to put some effort to improve.
Cultivated talent is sadly not enough to grant you success. It is just one variable in the equation. Judging for some artwork out there selling for a lot of money, some might argue that talent is not necessary. Someone marked a canvas with a crayon and since someone said it is art and it is backed up by an effective marketing machine then it is art, becomes famous and successful. Someone painted a box like a third grader project and because they made it into a ‘prestigious’ gallery then we can call that success. Honestly, I’ve seen successful art that my kids can do better. It is very frustrating when we see ‘overrated’ get recognition when ‘overqualified’ can’t even get the job.
The myth that all you need is talent is just that, a myth. At the end it goes back to the love for what you do and doing what you love. Trying to compete with what people call talent is fruitless. Do not compare yourself with others that make things different from you. Don’t let an elitist few to put you down because you don’t make the cut into their purpose. Follow your own purpose. Develop and improve your talent. Add knowledge and experience to it. It could pay off eventually but it will satisfy you always.
The Reality in Myth
Thessalonike of Macedon was a princess. According to myth, a mermaid will surface to encounter sailors on their way to Macedon asking, “Is Alexander the king alive?” To this question there was only one appropriate answer that will allow the sailors to continue their way, “He lives and reigns and conquers the world.” Any other answer will enrage the mermaid and transform her into the monster Gorgon which drowned the ships and the sailors. The myth says that the mermaid is no other than Thessalonike, sister of Alexander the great who in her attempt to kill herself threw herself into the sea but instead of drowning, she was transformed into a mermaid.
One of my favorite stories of greek mythology is the story of king Minos and the minotaur. It is one of the most bizarre stories ever told in ancient Greece. The Greeks tried to depict their disgust to the practices of the Minoans that the story is nothing but a description of a barbarian nation. After all, for them either you were greek or barbarian. Same with the Romans, it was either Roman or barbarian. Many people think like that still today. People constantly judge others because they don’t believe the same, or practice the same, or share their lineage, language, or nationality. People still today create myths to degrade others mixing some reality with it to try to make it believable. Maybe on the other side others are doing the same with them.
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