Friday, August 5, 2016

Creativity and Community: I'm Here to Make Friends



"I'm not here to make friends, I'm here to win. " 
-Project Runway contestants. 

When contestants are making their one on one interview during these reality competition shows, this is what is said  over and over again, and frankly, I'm tired of it.  

Can't you do both? Can't you win and make friends? When you are a friendly human being, isn't that winning! 

I say yes!

I know it's a competition but there is real joy and friendship in the midst of true creativity. Creativity is community, not competition. And if you notice, the winner of these shows is usually a relatively nice guy. No one wants to give awards to assholes, no matter how creative or talented they are. 

In Ink Master, The Next Food Network Star and, yes,  Project Runway,  the asshole gets voted off sooner or later. If you're going to win, you're going to win because you are good at what you do.  You don't have to step over bodies to get the prize. 

I rather win with a few friends along the way because creativity is not competition, it's community.