There’s a lot of talk these days about cringe.
“Ugh, that dress is so cringe!” “Ugh, that song is so cringe!”
No one’s defining exactly what cringe IS. But we know it when we see it. Or, if we DON’T know it when we see it, we’ll soon learn based on everyone else’s reactions.
But here’s the thing.
We CAN define cringe.
Cringe is everything outside of the very narrow parameters of what’s been deemed acceptable. What’s been deemed palatable. What’s been deemed COOL.
Guess what’s NOT inside those parameters!
ART is not inside those parameters.
You can REPLICATE inside of those parameters, but you cannot CREATE inside of those parameters.
And NONE of us became artists to replicate what other people have told us is cool.
So the next time you think, “Oh my god, this is going to make me look so stupid,” or “Oh my god, this is so embarrassingly sincere,” or “Oh my god, this doesn’t match,” or “Oh my god, I can never show ANYONE this thing I’m making,” tell yourself: I’M ON THE RIGHT TRACK.
The next time you feel a full-body cringe — even though it doesn’t feel GOOD — reclaim it. Tell yourself: I AM COURTING MY BEST WORK.
Artists, cringe in your JOB.
Go do your job.