Thoughts on Radiance

I went to see Jean Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child. It was awesome and sad. I got to see a glimpse of the mind of an artist, his joys and struggles. He was a famous and wealthy man who died at 27, leaving behind thousands of pieces of art. It was thrilling seeing a vibrant, articulate artist in this footage. It was compelling to see how elite art circles shut him out. It was sad to see that he couldn't overcome his demons (grief over Warhol's death, his relationship with his father, his struggle with drugs).

I know many creative types who think fame and money will make things better. This doc showed that all of that success can't fix low self-esteem, loneliness, old family baggage or any other fucked up noises that go on in your head.

Go see this, especially if you're a creative type. As Lao Tse once said, "He who controls others may be powerful, but he who has mastered himself is mightier still."