Imperfectionism
Humans, at their core, are driven by desire. Money, food, power, sex- each is just a means to an end, the end being a path to the top of the social ladder. Striving is a method by which humanity can find their own security. However, such striving has a dark side. With the definition of “best” being abstract, desire’s darker twin is born. Perfectionism can deal a harsh blow to professionals in any field, but none more so than the arts. Artists deal in the abstract, which turns perfectionism’s strike lethal. Perfectionism is a plague for artists that begs conformity, creates a breeding ground for self-doubt, and finally, facilitates failure.
Being so subjective, one wouldn’t think that the ideal of “perfection” would be harmful to those employed by their ability to twist meaning. To writers in particular, an editor’s (or an audience’s) idea of perfection can wreak havoc upon unique ideas, as one singular definition of perfection does not allow for those who challenge social norms. Art has always been about expression, and many of the greatest artists of history are those whose lives differed from what was considered socially acceptable. Society’s idea of perfection has forced many into a position to conform or starve. Conformity is another form of starvation for these artists who find no other way to express themselves, as they are deprived of their inspiration. Even in today’s world, perfectionism leads to authors being rejected by publishers or shunned by their target audience. To succeed in society, many artists are forced to sacrifice, whether it be their careers or their deepest selves.
In addition, perfectionism leads many artists to develop crippling self-doubt. Perhaps this is an effect of society’s pressure to conform, or perhaps it is the dissonance between what artists themselves see and what they strive for- either way, it can devastate their chances of becoming successful. As art is an extension of the artist, doubt often creeps its way into their works, which may be seen as a form of self-sabotage. If anything, their art may become worse by society’s standards due to an artist’s learned helplessness. This doubt creates situations in which artists feel they must leave behind their art in order to succeed, which has a similar effect to conforming, or “selling out”. If perfectionism is damaging to an artist’s chances of reaching their audience, who’s to say it wouldn’t damage their chances of reaching themselves?
The final stage in perfectionism’s process is failure. Unable to support themselves, whether it is due to society’s demands or the dissonance between an artist’s expectation for their work and its reality, the artist gives up. They fail; they abandon their work; they abandon themselves. This final step is the simplest to explain and the hardest to escape, for an artist cannot truly live without their art.
Humanity would be nothing without their ability to strive, but like all things, striving must be done in moderation. If it’s taken to an unhealthy degree, the end result will suffer, perhaps tainted by the pain of the process itself. Perfectionism may be impossible to avoid, but it is also impossible to attain. But if there is one thing an artist knows, it’s how to twist the meaning of “impossible”.
