[The Exterminating Dream II] The Independent Artist

 We often hear the word "genius" used in reference to great ideas, great inventions and short-lived trends, but what is genius?

By Webster's definition, Genius is defined as "a very smart or talented person : a person who has a level of talent or intelligence that is very rare or remarkable."

There is truth in Webster's definition but little is mentioned beforehand to the aspiring aiming to make their names known. To know of genius academically is only partial, one must learn by harsh experience what genius requires. 

Thomas Edison once said that "genius is 10% aspiration, 90% perspiration" meaning genius is not just one great idea, one great invention, one great trend or one great article, it's sacrifice, its hard work, thousands of hours of unwavering dedication. No one knows this better than independent artists, those without network contacts to the mainstream or those who refused to play the game of the mainstream. According to most consumers and agents, an artist is only as good as their last work.

To remain relevant, to consistently joust for your right to shine, for your art to be an anomaly, an independent artist must abide by the simple notion of  "Publish or perish, produce or be reduced."

The dream of art is for all as art is for all. There are legions of great artists the world over has never known and many who were only known posthumously. Hither or thither, an artist has only their art to display their identity, their pathology, an extermination dream that refuses to allow them sleep until it itself has life, thus demanding life.