Season 3 wraps up with Marc Conaco
How important is it to make 'good' art? (and go in the draw to WIN)
In this episode, Marc and I sit down to chat about the past six months and answer questions from guests.
Julie Zhu (who kicked off this season in September) sent through something just after we recorded so we didn’t get to discuss it in the studio buuuuut, it’s a great question so will reflect on it here.
My take is this: it’s important to make and create, full stop.
How are we determining what makes art ‘good’? Sales? Stats? Reviews? Friends’ opinions? Do other people like it? Is it ‘safe’? Is it making a ballsy statement? Is it inclusive? Did it make us feel a certain way? Is it fresh? Or is it traditional? Who is the artist making for? Themselves? Everyone else?
If I had wanted to create a perfect, ‘good’ podcast, I would never have actually started the thing. Sometimes, you just have to start something. Create something even if it’s not a fully formed idea. I cringe a lot when I think about those early episodes but I had to start to get closer to what I liked. I had to start in order to figure out what I did and didn’t want to talk about. I had to start in order to figure out what I deemed was ‘good’ and ‘bad’ (to me at least).
I made a podcast that’s about conversing with creatives because I’ve always thought that there’s courage in creativity. There’s courage in being vulnerable enough to have an idea, back the idea and express yourself through whatever thing it turns out to be. When Julie asks, “why are we so embarrassed to make ‘bad’ art?” - I think it’s because maybe we’re too attached to the outcome. Or we want whatever we’ve created to say something about who we are and how we see the world - and when it doesn’t land, maybe it makes us ‘bad’ too. If you’re agonising over something you’ve created, maybe consider what you’re making it mean about yourself and whether it’s true or confirming a narrative.
Anyway, what do you think of Julie’s question/s? Is a fear of making ‘bad’ art stopping you from starting something?
💫 Speaking of whether something’s good or not; tell us what you’ve thought about this season! Fill out the season three feedback survey HERE, and go in the draw to win a $100 Prezzy card and a super limited edition Asian in Aotearoa tote bag.
Thank you for supporting the podcast and I hope you enjoy this episode with Marc.
Jenna
Find the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts and all good pod places or visit asianinaotearoa.com.