THE NECESSITY OF ART

Victor Bloom MD

February 23 of this year, a couple of months ago, Richard Monette gave a talk to the Economic Club of Detroit. For those who are not familiar with that name, he is the artistic director of the Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Ontario. Theater lovers have seen him as actor, playing such roles as Romeo, Macbeth and Hamlet, and in recent years his directorial skills have led to powerful and creative performances of old and new classics. His potency at the task of artistic director was powerful enough to surmount the problem of deficit spending and some empty seats.

Those regulars who make the three hour drive a pilgimage to what is arguably the finest theater in North America, regularly rave at the original and lavish productions. There are more aspects to Hamlet than meet the eye, and each performance illuminates different facets of the diamond that is the play.

One might ask, what is an artistic director doing at the Detroit Economic Club. Does he manufacture a product? Does he contribute to the economy? Is art useful?

In attempting to answer this question, Monette quoted Oscar Wilde. "All Art is quite useless; it doesn't seem to do anything; it just is." And the premier of Ontario declared at a conference in Canada about the future of education, that he sees little value in degrees in the humanities, geography and sociology. He adds that graduates in those fields have very little hope of contributing to society.

Monette answered with humor and with economic facts. When he was complimented for his work in the theater, he responded, "I've spent more time on the stage than in my own bed--- and I might add, with considerably more pleasure."

He went on to say that Art is essential to civilization; it gives form to the imagination. It helps bring structure to chaos, refinement to our senses. Without Art, we would be less human. It gives "to airy habitation a worldly place and a name."

We have stereotypes of the artist to which he has contributed. He is starving and freezing in a garret and consoles himself with absinthe or Jack Daniels. One starry night he is struck by an idea, a vision, and starts working furiously on some project. Eventually, he falls asleep exhausted, and wakes up the following morning awestruck at his own production, which he does not remember.

There is some truth to this caricature, as creative art springs from the unconscious and knows nothing of money or reward. A good friend of mine wakes up with an intact poem periodically, which he sets down forthwith. He had been gestating for months, without being aware of it, and every few months gives birth to a powerful, meaningful poem. He has been doing this for fifty years and the more than two hundred poems have been published in several collections which have been published.

To tap into the unconscious creatively is a gift, the capacity, ability and talent of the artist. We all have a part of this gift in us which allows us the privilege of enjoying any or all aspects of art. But art is not simply entertainment, but a means of insight into the human condition, or nature. It is too bad that the average person, the majority of mankind, is fearful of what they consider the cesspool of primitive emotions, drives and instincts. The artist sublimates these powerful, primitive, yes magical forces in his work.

Monette finally made his attendance at the Economics Club more obvious. His answer, albeit indirectly to the premier of Ontario was that the figures show that art returns three dollars for every one invested, that it is the fifth largest employer and the second fastest growing sector of the economy in Ontario.

Not for profit artistic institutions have revenues of 36.8 billion dollars and employ 1.3 million people in Canada. Their collective paychecks add up to 25.2 billion dollars. Art is 6% of the entire economy.

Richard Monette admitted that art does not produce a tangible product, such as an automobile or a bridge. But he contends rather that art is essential, like oxygen, food or education. He quoted William Blake, the great poet, "Poetry fettered, fetters the human race. Nations are destroyed or flourish in proportion as their poetry, painting and music are destroyed or flourish."

He said that poets are the unacknowledged legislators of the world.

The artistic director is no longer a mere artist, but has the daunting task of 'getting up' a play. This means the 'nuts and bolts' of unimaginable details, micromanaging and macromanaging, using interpersonal skills to move groups and unique skills to bring out the best in an actor or playright. The combination of skills is close to what is the requirement of an excellent CEO of a major corporation.

It is to be hoped that corporate Detroit, as part of the Renaissance and rebuilding of the inner city, will continue to support the arts. We need a vital counterforce to the influx of sports and gambling, so that there is balance, ultimately. Art competes with entertainment as food for the soul.

Dr. Bloom is Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry, Wayne State University School of Medicine. He is a Diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology and Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He is a member of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis and corresponding editor of their quarterly journal, Academy Forum. He welcomes comments and questions at his e-mail address: vbloom@comcast.net.