Several years ago when I was working as a freelance writer I had the rare opportunity to interview William Burroughs aka famed writer, aka Old Bull Lee from Kerouac’s “On the Road.” I generally interviewed musicians, which was cool, but, since my focus was on writing, and the Beats had always been of particular interest to me, this was one of those interviews you dream of, but seldom land.
He began with short, clipped, abrupt, answers bordering on rude and ended up gregarious, warm and offering to cook a meal. But, this isn’t a piece on Burroughs. This is a rumination one of his answers which has stayed with me through the years. First, he stated that he believed in many gods who were always at war, which lead to a much broader conversation.
Next we got to the Beats which lead to the history of the Beats and then to history in general, which led to his pronouncement: “all history is fiction.”
Initially I thought that was a flip statement on his part. A cool, hype reply that would make a good quote. But the more I thought about it, the more sense it made. All institutionalized history is fiction, since it is a story told by governments who can add, shape, omit and present their version of history to fit the narrative they want told.
If you dig down a bit deeper, all personal history can also be fiction. That too is shaped by our experiences, and choices, but also by the responses and judgements of others. If were are repeatedly told that we are destined to fail or succeed, we will chose memories and build a narrative to justify those beliefs. It’s generally an unconscious process, too often shaped primarily by others. We then begin to believe this narrative as our true history and act accordingly.
How does this fit in with marketing or PR your art works? What does this have to do with art?
Everything.
All artists carry their personal history with them and make decisions about their art, their careers and whether they will or can succeed based on the story they carry. Some artists who are, at best, marginally talented, can soar to amazing heights.
Why?
Because their story, their internal narrative tells them they are destined to succeed. They believe they can and will make it.
On the other hand, many artists who are immensely talented and create remarkable works never surface because they believe their personal history which describes a life in which they will never succeed as artists
So, whereas history can be fiction, that fiction has the power to shape our lives, our destiny and our world.
The story can be complete fiction or a skewed version of reality at best, but our belief in that particular version of history can set our life course.
Your belief in your personal history will be what shapes your life as an artist. And if you never question it, it will indeed become your reality.
That unconscious process can (slowly) become conscious.
If your history is a narrative that has led you to believe you’ll never succeed as an artist, remember all history is fiction.
You can change that narrative.
You can write your story.
Before the interview was over, Burroughs went on to explain how we can move backwards and forwards in time.
But, that is for another time.