Why do we expect artists to perform humility?

Humility in the face of praise is an expected response—much more socially acceptable than a show of pride. An artist's degree of humility is a show of their humble nature – self-critical, timid, and submissive to judgement. Art itself is subjective; the act of appreciation is an important indicator of its value, and when someone praises an artist, they expect gratitude in return. Much like how we compliment one another and take offence at a lack of appropriate thanks, considering its absence as arrogance.

All of this is common knowledge about human nature; we are taught to always say thanks and remain humble. Knowing this begs a simple question: Is humility itself a performance?

To venture into a profession in the arts, one must have a certain sense of belief. A musician knows that the quality of their music is above average—extraordinary, even. A painter knows they are capable of masterpieces, and an actor knows they are capable of greatness. Without this intrinsic knowledge, you would never rely on your art for a livelihood. Even the worst of artists brave the public's scrutiny because of a misplaced belief and a foolish dream. In all honesty, even I would not attempt to write if I didn’t have a base belief in myself. And while it is definitely true that self-criticality is the root of true humility, it is also true that an artist knows when they’ve done their best.

With fame comes an understandable influx of ego; we know the greats are aware of their greatness. Perhaps many greats sleep comfortably with the knowledge that they are among the best in their craft. The same is true for artists who have not received as many awards or are not swimming in piles of cash, but are aware of their talent.

Read more

Should we expect celebrities to fix the world?

Last year, Timothée Chalamet said that he knew the classiest thing would be to downplay the effort that went into his role in Marty Supreme as he accepted his Screen Actors Guild award. In a rare show of confidence, he went on to proclaim that he wants to be one of the greats. This was met with mixed reactions; some found his speech vain, but most found his honesty refreshing, a display of raw ambition. Instead of the usual speech along the lines of thanks, disbelief, and shock, he embraced pride in the work he put in. Going on to say he regards his award as fuel to greatness, as most artists definitely do – it’s not as if they retire to a day job after one great achievement. So, I ask the question: why must he downplay his hard work?

Their nominations don’t come as much of a surprise to them or to us. Kanye West's unforgettable speech at the Grammys is an incredible display of well-placed ego, an artist who always believes in himself, even to a fault. Often perceived as arrogant, it's undeniable that he truly believes in what he does, and it’s equally evident that his belief translates well to the public who adore him. If you don’t believe that artists are well-aware of when they are deserving of praise, we can take a look at the reaction of No Other Choice being snubbed at this year's Oscars: a billboard on the highway that mocks the Academy's consideration.

An artist spends many weeks perfecting their art before they announce it is finished. Musicians record the same song over and over again, and an actor spends months, years even, honing their craft for the cinema. Hundreds of takes and hours of work go into these projects, and when presented with an award for their hard work, the artists stand on the stage, overjoyed, proud, and always humble. In a profession that relies on subjectivity, gratitude is almost compulsory.

This is not to say that artists, however famous, are immune to unwarranted levels of true self-criticism. Much of their humility surely stems from it. An artist is constantly evolving, and this is made possible through a combination of their own self-criticism, humility, inspiration, and reflection. On the opposite spectrum, ambition and pride carry equal importance; artists are deserving of their pride.

Faiza is overcompensating for her approaching quarterlife crisis - reach her at faiza.atcorp@gmail.com