Do it, artfully.
I once spoke to a magician (when I was obsessed with card tricks in my youth) who told me that all tricks should be “made to look easy and effortless”. If people see the mechanics of the trick, or get the sense you’re struggling to perform it, the magic is lost. For the sake of contradicting myself in the first paragraph, I inverted this concept by intentionally coming across like the trick was going wrong in order to shock people when the actual “magic” happened. But anyway…
A friend of mine, who I count amongst the most socially smooth people I know, once balked at the idea of being too analytical when it came to interacting with people. I contended that she was making use of certain principles, formulas and ideas whether she was doing so consciously or not - so why not lean into it and weaponise it more? To her, the fundamental wonder inherent in those times where the night sings with spontaneity is dented when things are dissected with cold eyes. To me, it seemed like she was saying that she knew there are things behind the curtain, but didn’t want to stare at them too long. This stayed with me and I think about it often, which is kind of ironic since her philosophy was clearly anti-overthinking.
Chords, keys, scales, arpeggios, modes, major sevenths, dominant sevenths… these are the kinds of things I see when I play the piano. But, that says nothing about what it feels like to play the piano. More than that, in no way does it captures the feeling conjured up by a piano piece that hits you in the right place at the right moment. I’ve heard it said by a famous pianist that, when learning Chopin’s music, you must obsess in granular detail, pay your dues to the technical demands of the piece, leave no seemingly inconsequential detail encoded in the sheet music unaccounted for, and then when it’s time to perform - let it all go. Forget the mechanics and the technique, and just simply play.
Adverts with beautifully crafted storylines, aesthetic visuals and meaningful messages often elicit a level of respect. Yet, a targeted ad based on your particular demographic, location and browsing history seems far less decent, even if it has a much more useful impact on our lives. Perhaps this is what’s off-putting about the notion of some algorithm dictating what meets our gaze online? Or maybe people like to know that a human put work into something especially when they’re being asked to part with their money? Either way, it seems there is something noble in the craft of artistry. Maybe it’s because people don’t want to see the mechanics of a thing, or to have the more crude mathematical underpinnings of it front and centre? I’m not sure.
This ramble was inspired by a simple passing thought or question: It would seem that some things are acceptable as art forms but not as science - why is this? Feel free to let me know your thoughts on this question too…
"The magician takes the ordinary something and makes it do something extraordinary. Now you're looking for the secret... but you won't find it, because of course you're not really looking. You don't really want to know. You want to be fooled." - The Prestige
Whether something is art, science, or even both may be a matter of perspective. The audience watching the magician's act revels in the artistry of the performance; meanwhile, the magician spends unseen hours, days, even months refining the technical details, perfecting their craft into art worthy of the stage.
I see science *as* art in many cases. As a consumer of software, I'm able to appreciate the fluid responsiveness of an app, or the seamlessness of a well-designed user experience. However, from the perspective of a software engineer, I also enjoy learning about the processes that make it all possible. There's an art to stringing together a myriad of pieces into a greater whole.
I also think that humans are innately attracted to simplicity, elegance, and "stories". Most people are consumers of art, and therefore only see the end result. For them, it's enough. The final product is what ultimately gets taken in and enjoyed, judged and admired.
What's hidden is the process, which may be less captivating -- the "magic" is lost. With that said, I think people do like hearing about the more inexplicable things behind the art -- a sudden stroke of inspiration that leads to a song being written at 3am, or the symbolic meaning behind a painted tree. Learning about the more involved technical workings behind the magic is something only other magicians (or aspiring magicians) may be interested in...
If this is a ramble, it is an awfully tidy and insightful one; thanks for sharing!
This post reminded me of an interview with jazz pianist Bill Evans where he says that a crying baby is expressing itself no doubt, but that doesn't mean that it is making music. I think you make a good point that art cannot be reduced to expression alone.
Your post also reminded me of the composer John Cage's quote, " I have nothing to say and I am saying it and that is poetry as I need it."
Cheers!