"Anyone can make the simple complicated. Creativity is making the complicated simple."
Charles Mingus
I am going to go ahead and agree with this statement. Though this particular passage may come off as convoluted and pretentious (an artist? pretentious? never) I find significant truths in it. Firstly, I do believe that making the simple complicated is often the case in many aspects of life. Essentially every argument ever had accomplishes this. It is called differing points of view, end of story. Instead we insist on emotionally driven circular "discussions" that too often yield no tangible result. Anywho, I also believe that creativity involves making the complicated simple in at least two ways. 1) The creative process: even though the product may be perceived as simple, the process never is. Whether the complication is of unrelenting deliberation or a tactile nature, process is always complicated. And 2) the end result, meaning the emotion that a creative piece provokes, can be simple while the piece itself is emphatically complicated. Emotion is raw and all artistic endeavors should aim to evoke emotion. Often this emotion can be ephemeral and intangible, but the process of conjuring is undeniably simple. Well, I have really gone of the deep end on this one, I think Mingus would be proud. Perhaps it's my hangover speaking...
Charles Mingus (1922-1979) was an American jazz upright bass player, composer, and band leader. Mingus is well known for his unique composing style of combining hard bop, gospel, free jazz, and classical genres. He preferred the collective improvisation style of old New Orleans parade music and employed it in his ensembles. He was known to cite Duke Ellington and church as his main influences. Mingus was also known for his fierce temperament and being uncompromising of his artistic integrity.
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