Re: RAT solipsism/vanity

[P1d2o3b@aol.com]

Looks like I jumped in here a little late; rit this ere I saw elba, but
sending anyhoo, because i thought i was sooooo profound,  about
an hour agol
In a message dated 12/30/99 1:47:16 PM EST, jonoh1@juno.com writes:

>  And
>  it's kind of cheap to look at community service in that way, don't you
>  think?
>  Jonathan
I agree with Jonathan's last post all up to here. 
 
Enlightened self interest is the motor of civilization.
(just an opinion)  
I'm suspicious of anyone who can't identify their self interest
up front when offering their services to the community. 
This is most important for artists in a society which makes "self serving"
a condition of artistic survival.  Making the artists' interest a
conscious part of what advancing their career is not the main
point of  is good.  It makes community art projects higher art. It does
advance artistic careers.   It keeps the artist and community, or better
said, the professional lead artist and amateur artists they enable to
express and enact, from feeling ripped off and exploited by each other.
 
They serve themselves best who serve others better.  Or,  
They serve themselves most, who serve others first 
and/or more.  
I've been working on this bumper sticker for a long time.  
Feel free anyone to appropriate, improve, and deliver.

>From what we know of the preliterate origins of drama to
its survival -- stone to paper to silicon -- the artist of a culture
is one who enables its members to express and enact its highest
worthiest, etc, etc, etc,  blah blah statement gift blah blah to others
(I think I mean other 'cultures' there, being aware of one's ethocentricity
being appreciated I think as cosmo-universo blah blah conscious)
-- "express and enact"  it was someone else saying this that addicted me to 
this
list.  
Peggy