Rants // Genius by Definition

There’s so much talent and creativity out there today. But on the other hand we really need to let the 19th century idea of individual artistic genius fade away, please – A Closer Listen

It’s all subjective of course but sometimes a big part of the ‘genius’ is being in the right place at the right time and knowing how hot the iron and how hard to strike – Graham Reznick

Super unpopular opinion, but I’ve never understood why Brian Wilson was a genius anyway? I mean, he was in an influential band that people loved, and the harmonies are beautiful, but it’s not like he invented it? He was part of musical evolution just like other people who aren’t called geniuses – petnoodle

With recent losses of both Brian Wilson and Sly Stone, the G word made its way back into headlines. I believe both well deserve the title, but there’s a lot more to the picture than meets the eye.

First of all, what is a definition of a genius? Steve Vai put it as such while talking about Frank Zappa

I think the definition of a genius is a person that is able to call this inspiration into play very simply and organically anytime they want

In other words – genius works with ideas but also rearranges them in ways that are nearly impossible to describe or comprehend. You will, however, know it when you’ll see it, hear it or read it.

Or will you? Does the genius stops being such because he didn’t break into the mainstream or sold millions of records/ created a blockbuster / wrote bestsellers? And more importantly – is the genius always benevolent?

The answers depend on who you listen to – by rather narrow larger cultural definition genius is not only someone that rearranges mundane ideas but someone that also sells them successfully meaning nothing less than mainstream recognition. Where does that leave us with someone like Arthur Russell? How about the countless influential, but not quite mainstream, jazz and bluesmen like Wes Montgomery? In larger cultural context those would probably be described as cult heroes, which, again, I suspect have to do more with sales and money matters than with creativity.

As for the second question – there’s a reason the word “Genius” often ends up next to “difficult”. Way too many stories tie together abuse and the forgiveness of the abuser solely due to latter having enormous cultural weight/recognition. Do we look past abuse and/or simply ignore it and hope things will work out? Current New York political race may offer some answers.

27 Club offers another grim perspective – one on fame, genius and the crushing weight of expectations. While both Sly and Brian Wilson did not end up on it, nearly every other piece on either or both mentions the tragedy of their later lives where both suffered endless setbacks due to a combination of drug use and mental illness.

So could it be that if we, as a culture, would’ve been better off not trying to fit so many people into a narrow box and force them to live up to our (often confusing) expectations of success? I’m convinced that is, indeed, the case – and it would’ve been beneficial not just for successful commercial artists, but for everyone struggling to make their way through this world.