While wondering around the streets tonight, someone asked me what I “do”. I always love that question. I know exactly what is being asked of me, to define my life and person by my current career role. “I am a _________.” Bartender? Businessman? Filmmaker? Sex Machine?
I usually respond with something technically accurate, but just slightly pithy and sarcastic. “So what do you do Mike?” “A great many things.” “As much as I can get away with.” “Brunettes, mostly.”
I suppose by most people’s definitions I would be an “Investment Specialist” (“Specialist, Individual Retirement Investment Services”, to be complete), since that is where I derive the majority of my income at the moment. Not a bad title, gives the impression of a hotshot money guy, all slick suits and big deals. Professional respect.
I can also make the argument that I’m a filmmaker, since that’s where I’m focusing a lot of my spare time, hobbies, and passions. It also has a more definate end product: the film. Something that people can see for themselves and understand that I had a hand in creating. Also not a bad title, has a lot of cultural cache and allure, people love to be part of (or know someone in) the entertainment biz (regardless of how peripherally). Artistic respect.
It’s an odd dichotomy; I think that most people would (given the choice) rather enjoy success as an artist (singing, acting, writing, painting, etc.) than as a professional (lawyer, doctor, politician, CEO, etc.). However, the pursuit of the former over the latter is often dismissed as childish or fanciful, ignorant of what they really should be working towards.
Is this more out of concern for the typically lower probability of financial sustainability (not the dream success, just enough to survive on) with the more artistic pursuits? Is there any factor of jealousy stemming from those who wish they would have explored their own possibilities, having instead comprimised to the more practical path? How do we, as a country/culture/generation, truly rate or prioritize the options available to us?
I’ll leave you with one person’s (slightly abbreviated) thoughts on it:
“I must study War and Politics,
so my children may study Science and Engineering,
so their children may study Literature and Music.”
-John Adams, in a letter to his wife, dated 1870
PS – Just for kicks, I told her I was an “artist”, and left it at that.
