Intellectual Loneliness

Intellectual loneliness is about realizing how few people can tolerate complexity. Intellectual loneliness is the basis of art. It isn’t about wanting ‘deep talks’. It is about how quickly people rush to have an answer; rather than to understand. Unfortunately, it is understanding that leads to compassion.

Generally, people want to feel good and be right. To be right makes one feel good. Intellectual loneliness comes from watching–watching people form entire world views off headlines, vibes, whatever reels they watch, and whatever important others told them.

Intellectual loneliness is the silence that follows when you say something that doesn’t fit neatly into someone’s script. It is not arrogance. It’s exhaustion. From always having to code-switch between what you actually think, and what’s safe to say. People will shut down and recoil from nuance. Leaving you lonely. Intellectual loneliness sparks creativity. It’s an innate desire to understand.

Openness (a born-with personality trait) allows your brain to stretch, to accommodate rather than assimilate. Small talk bores you, in fact, alienates you. You crave, not necessarily smart people, but people who are still thinking.

[Adapted from an unknown source.]

Then and Now

I have always been lonely. Not unpopular, but lonely. I have always had ‘friends’; but been lonely. Let’s look at that.

Moral Ambiguity

Moral ambiguity is the opposite of being right. It is born of openness–a willingness to weigh the possibility that there might be another way. It is risky.

Taylor Sheridan’s work/art (“Yellowstone“, or “1883“, or “Landman”, or “Tulsa King”) is a good example of moral ambiguity.

Artists and their Art

is a way to understand Intellectual Loneliness. Intellectual loneliness is the basis of art.

Take my son’s (Jake) forthcoming book Setups & Payoffs. Wherein Jake analyses the work of writer and director Shane Black–his art.

Jake, teacher, writer, and “Film Nerd”, loves LA because of Hollywood, its stories, and the people that scene attracts–has posted the draft of the last chapter here.

I can’t recommend it enough, if you are a writer, or artist of any kind. An intellectually lonely person. I think you would like what he has to say.

Lyrical Ambiguity

Purple words on a grey background are lyrics from Neil Young’s second album (1969); from the song “Cowgirl in the Sand”. Mr. Young is vague about the song’s meaning and inspiration. I think, the song is as true today as when he wrote it. Timeless. It’s about loneliness–the cause and effect. Maybe.

My relationship with Neil Young goes way back. From when he first came on the scene back in the late Sixties. He’s still making music, and talking. Making art. Is he still lonely? I don’t know. Maybe he’s found the woman of his dreams? His cowgirl in the sand.

Conclusion

Would you agree that Intellectual Loneliness is the basis of art? Additionally, that it is the spark that ignites the artist’s creativity? Or something else?