Read Recently: “Letters to a Young Artist” by Anna Deavere Smith
Title: Letters to a Young Artist
Author: Anna Deavere Smith
Backstory: A stop-in at A Clean Well Lighted Place for Books. Couldn’t resist.
Notes: I’ve been a fan of Anna Deavere Smith since reading about Fires in the Mirror more than 10 years ago and have followed her career closely. I failed to get her last book Talk to Me. And despite hating the author of Letters to a Young Activist and the substance of Letters to a Young Novelist, I figured this one would have a heartier mix of wisdom and practicality.
Verdict: It almost does. While Smith doesn’t touch on how to get the press to come to your art opening or how make music while holding down a day job (probably less the concerns of high school and college-age “young artists”), her insights about avoiding to curse of “cool” and empty rebellions against “the man” are dead on. At times, she’s a bit slight, more treacly than wise. But these times are far outweighed by the majority of the essays: careful, astute and necessary.
If you’re not interested in creativity, you won’t be interested in this book. Me? I found it inspirational.
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She came and spoke at Purdue a few years back. Very cool lady! I haven’t read any of her books, but she gave a really great talk.
She came and spoke at Purdue a few years back. Very cool lady! I haven’t read any of her books, but she gave a really great talk.