Sincerity and Dismissiveness

 There is one phrase that never fails to infuriate me: "That person has way too much time on their hands". This is usually said in response to something they have read about or seen on their computer or television that relates to anything artsy, obscure,  unconventual or odd. I embrace the artsy, the obscure, the unconventual and the odd; it is what makes us neat. It is what makes us, well, us.

We sometimes forget that everything around us that is manmade started out as an idea first--an idea that grew out of the imagination. Be it inane or sensible, it is created by human ingenuity. How fantastic! How can anyone be dismissive to that?

My favorite story about this is when George Frideric Handel composed his famous oratorio The Messiah way back in 1741.  We should all be familiar with the Hallelujah Chorus; I have put in a link where you could listen to it and read about why it is powerful:  http://www.npr.org/2008/12/23/98517850/the-pure-power-of-handels-hallelujah-chorus.

 There is that part where it just gets higher and higher and higher and higher. Well, during rehearsals, it went so high that the singers of the time could not sing it and it caused alot of people to get really pissed off at Handel. He had the audacity to go against the practices and musical conventions of the time. But that straining sound was just what he wanted; he wanted to personify the need for mankind to push and reach for God. He had a vision and a sound that he wanted: he wanted to exalt God and push our emotional buttons. And he didn't give up and no matter what your beliefs are, if you aren't moved by that piece of music, you are stone-cold and heartless.

Handel was sincere in what he was making and not only has it withstood time--almost 300 years, people--it was important to the evolution of music and culture. And he was willing to fight the egos and powers that be to maintain his integrity and sincerity. Could you imagine the piece without it?  Thank you, Mr. Handel.

So I say, HIP HIP HOORAY to all these people. People who:

1. Make movies that star Vincent Price or have names like "Donovan's Brain" and "House on Haunted Hill".
2. Make houses out of beer cans, grain bins, junk and broken glass.
3. Make art with food,  sand,  and buildings. Visit http://www.squidoo.com/oddart for some neat stuff to look at.
4. Started and run the Mutter Museum. That's the one with all the flayed human bodies.
5. Invent things and those who sacrificed for them. People like the Wright Brothers, Madam Curie, Leonardo Da Vinci, the Silly Putty guy and the Post-It Note guy.
6. Maintain the little kid inside, especially when they are really a little kid.

So, next time you experience a beautifully decorated cupcake, view art made out of books, listen to the Red Hot Chili Peppers, watch "Planet of the Vampires" or read Thomas Pynchon, remember that you are given a gift of someone's imagination and sincerity. You don't need to like it, but you do need appreciate the human spirit.