CLIQUES & CLICHES
Old habits die hard. Take being part of a group or party as an example. Sororities, fraternities, church groups, school associations, teamsters, unions, different class groups and the like all have a common denominator - it's somewhat part of a collective, a nucleus, a group, a CLIQUE. Some of this collective union could be made for good while others just have a crowd-mentality OR cattle-mentality where people just follow blindly without any self or independent thought. These types of groups, collectives or CLIQUES are mediocrity dangerous. If you notice I put 'mediocrity' in front of dangerous and it's because that is the ONLY way these types of groups, collecties and CLIQUES are dangerous: Mediocrity in their way of thinking, mediocrity in how they conduct their business, mediocrity in how closed-minded they really are.
Since I am an artist, I am well aware of the artists CLIQUES. Every city has one; from a filmmaking fraternity to a writers group - artists are not immune to the CLIQUE mentality. In fact, it breeds a CLIQUE mind-set because artists by definition can do what the consumer can't and therefore a CLIQUE mentality sets in. Unfortunately most of these so-called artists have a more consumer DNA in them rather than having a more creative DNA and that is why these 'artists' can be and act in absurd ways. What these CLIQUES, be it the consumer CLIQUES or the artists CLIQUES fail to realize is that a CLIQUE becomes a human CLICHE and a CLICHE is a worn-out troupe and it can be applied to either an item or human being.
I, James D. Watkins, have seen upfront how CLICHE artists can be and how idiotic and backwards it makes them seem. It doesn't matter what city, what town or which state, there's some form of a mediocre CLIQUE. Take for an example some of the local press or media. Look at how they gravitate to the most normal, most safe, most assured and most hyped events. From Rochester, N.Y. to Orlando, Florida, it happens and it's not only absurd but somewhat hilarious. I've actually read newspaper coverage of someone doing a 'waiter-type' avant garde performance at WAWA. Yes, WAWA! Now, don't think I'm an elitist in art, but really?? I've produced press releases on a pretty consistent and creative ways and I notice how there's not much coverage when it comes to certain local presses and media and I really chuckle at it because all media must learn that they are not the ONLY media. This is a big world and at the same time it is a small world and as long as people or organizations think of only one way such as BIG WORLD or SMALL WORLD and they don't think of it in the same context, they will forever cater to a forever growing narrow-minded and simple-minded market. Then you take certain individuals who I have no problem calling out because their whole existence is their locale and they have no REAL power or REAL clout whatsoever. I try to play nice with certain arts organizations but some of them are really under the illusion that they are the end all and be all of art in select disciplines. It becomes a joke after a while. Case in point; PLAYWRITERS ROUNDTABLE here in Orlando, Florida claim to showcase new writers and their works, BUT YET, when I offered up a bevy of my written works, some of these so-called 'writers' actually took offense to several of those works and since I am a gracious artist and can take constructive criticism, I listened and made note of what was said and then I rebuttal, but then I realized that 'NOT ALL ARTISTS ARE CREATED EQUAL'. Some people and artist revel in mediocrity and just as in the film AMADEUS, mediocrity rules. But when I look at people or 'artist' such as CHARLES R. DENT, TRACY JANE SMITH & YVONNE SUHOR(who's dead by the way), I have to ask myself am I cut from a different cloth. What these human CLICHES will always fail to realize is that when someone such as myself is totally focused and totally obsessively dedicated to my art, my dream, my craft and my unlimited and unwavering ability, their CLICHES or groups come across as a joke. The pure creative tenacity I possess will always outstrip them and it will always baffle them. In a way I pity these so-called CLIQUES. Mediocrity loves company and believe me, these so-called CLIQUES in New York, Chicago, Atlanta, Orlando, etc., are the epitome of mediocrity and I think it's all for the better because what other way would unique, provoking, daring, unconventional, inventive and different concepts, ideas and other ways of doing things get done? Certainly not by any CLIQUES - but by the pure energy and power of a single-minded and laser-focused individual. This is what these CLIQUES fear, an individual such as I. I just don't burn bridges, I can blow them up because I know and realize where my ARTISTIC INSIGHT(A.I.) comes from and it's not from any mortal. Pure energy, pure power, pure ingenuity, pure tenacity will always separate the artists from the human CLICHES known as CLIQUES.
- JAMES D. WATKINS