Why We Create Art
Why We Create — Pete Docter’s Insight
Pete Docter, Pixar’s Chief Creative Officer, captures the tension in art-making:
“I’m not making these movies for me. I’m making them for you, for the audience. But… the primary audience in my head is me.”
At first, he sees his work as a gift for others, like crafting the perfect present for a friend. But then he admits he must also create for himself because each project takes years, and he needs to stay inspired.
“If I know exactly what I’m doing at the beginning, the movie will be dull. I have to allow for learning and discovery.”
🎨 Creation as Discovery
For Docter, the process of making art is a journey of self-discovery, exploration, and growth—not just a polished final product.
🤝 Art as Connection
Like the essayist reflecting on their own creative journey, the process helps connect with others:
It's personal: discovering who we are.
It's shared: hoping others resonate with the work.
It's a balance between the selfish desire for recognition and the selfless act of sharing.
“Whether it’s for ourselves, close friends, or the wider world—creating always matters. It’s how we connect, reflect, and grow.”
---- Carl Jung’s concepts (Shadow, Persona, Self, Anima/Animus) and how they relate to art and creativity
🌓 1. The Shadow The Shadow is the hidden, repressed side of our psyche — the parts we don’t accept or show to the world (e.g., envy, aggression, desire).
In Art: Creativity allows us to explore the shadow safely — artists often channel their darker, raw, or taboo feelings into art (e.g., horror films, abstract works, protest art).
Example: Frida Kahlo painted her pain and suffering, expressing her shadow through vivid, surreal self-portraits.
🎭 2. The Persona The Persona is the mask we wear in society — how we want others to see us.
In Art: Sometimes art is crafted to maintain or challenge the persona — social media art, branding, or carefully curated works reinforce the artist’s public image. Alternatively, some art intentionally breaks that mask (e.g., Banksy’s anonymous, anti-capitalist street art).
🧘♀️ 3. The Self The Self is the whole, integrated version of ourselves — when we reconcile the Shadow, Persona, and other parts of the psyche.
In Art: The creative process can help us move toward wholeness, expressing a more complete version of ourselves, embracing both light and dark sides.
Example: Carl Jung himself used mandala drawings as a personal tool to achieve psychological integration.
🌙 4. Anima/Animus The Anima (inner feminine in men) and Animus (inner masculine in women) represent our internalized opposite gender traits.
In Art: Artists may create characters or works that explore their inner gender dynamics, fluidity, or sensitivity. This is seen in literature, music, or performance that blurs gender lines (e.g., David Bowie’s personas).
🎨 Why Art Matters in Jungian Terms Art is a bridge between the conscious and unconscious mind.
It helps us:
Confront and express our Shadow.
Question or solidify our Persona.
Move toward Self-realization.
Balance Anima/Animus dynamics. ----
✅ Pros of Making Art (with Examples)
Self-Expression
Example: Frida Kahlo’s paintings expressed her chronic pain and complex identity.
Inspiration
Example: Picasso’s Guernica — inspired global outrage against the horrors of war.
Healing
Example: Veterans use art therapy to process PTSD through painting or sculpture.
Connection
Example: BTS’s music and visual art connects millions globally, transcending language.
Legacy
Example: Da Vinci’s Mona Lisa — still culturally relevant after 500+ years.
❌ Cons of Making Art (with Examples)
Misunderstood
Example: Van Gogh was dismissed in his time — sold only one painting in his life.
Undervalued
Example: Street artists like Banksy gained fame, but many street artists remain broke or criminalized.
Exploitation
Example: Jean-Michel Basquiat’s works now sell for millions — yet in his life, he struggled financially.
Prone to Money Laundering
Example: Some Russian oligarchs and wealthy elites use auctions to launder millions through overpriced art.
🤔 Why People Appreciate Art Less Today (with Examples)
Information Overload
Example: Scrolling Instagram, you might skip a masterpiece because it’s sandwiched between memes.
Instant Gratification
Example: TikTok trends value speedy, viral content — less focus on depth like traditional film or fine art.
Monetization of Creativity
Example: AI art generators produce instant art — devaluing human effort and originality.
Education Gap
Example: Many schools cut arts funding, meaning fewer kids learn art history or critical viewing skills.
🔧 What Should We Do (with Examples)
Promote Art Education
Example: Finland’s education system integrates arts as essential to emotional intelligence.
Create Spaces for Slow Art
Example: Slow Art Day encourages visitors to look at just 5 artworks for 10 minutes each — deeply engaging.
Support Local Artists
Example: Buying from local markets or platforms like Etsy, rather than mass-produced prints.
Art as Utility
Example: Documentary films like 13th (Ava DuVernay) push conversations on racial justice — art with impact.
🧩 Does Art Solve World Problems? (with Examples)
Direct Help:
Example: Medical illustrations help educate doctors — merging science and art.
Indirect Help:
Example: Ai Weiwei's refugee art installations spotlight humanitarian crises, shifting public empathy.
Doctor heals the body. Artist awakens the soul.
💵 Is Art Always Money Laundering?
Example of Abuse:
The Salvator Mundi painting sold for $450M — some speculate its value was manipulated for wealth hiding.
But:
A painter selling portraits on the street is unlikely part of such schemes.
🎨 Summary in a Line
Art isn’t just self-expression — it inspires, heals, connects, and sometimes even drives social change. While some use the art market for corruption, most artists simply aim to make meaning — not millions. Here’s a direct vs indirect way art solves problems
✅ Summary
Direct: Clear, intentional message to fix or highlight a specific problem.
Indirect: Raises awareness, triggers introspection, influences culture or thinking over time.
Both methods are valuable — direct art can push policy or action, indirect art changes mindsets subtly.
----- The Marginalian (formerly Brain Pickings)—run by Maria Popova—has shared rich reflections on why people undervalue art and what art truly offers. Here are a few key highlights:
🎨 1. Art as Nourishment and Service
“What you make is making the lives of legions of strangers more livable for them … all art is self‑help and all art is service.” Meaning: Even if art starts as personal expression, it serves others by helping them feel seen, understood, or inspired.
🌀 2. Transcendence: Ecstasy in Art
Maria Popova cites Arthur Machen on this:
Great art induces ecstasy, a sense of awe or mystery that temporarily lifts us out of ordinary life. Meaning: The deepest works don’t just communicate—they transport us to new states of consciousness.
🧠 3. Art as Therapy
An article by Alain de Botton highlights art's healing power:
Art preserves experiences that might otherwise be forgotten or overwhelming. Meaning: Art helps us process emotions and make sense of life’s moments.
🛡 4. Vulnerability & Misunderstanding
Maria Popova quotes Anne Truitt:
“The greatest point of vulnerability for the artist is that all private integrity is always subject to public misunderstanding.” Meaning: Art opens us up, but can be misinterpreted—even if it stems from honest intentions.
💭 Why People May Undervalue Art (per The Marginalian)
Art can be overwhelming without guidance—its depth requires attention.
We often seek immediate answers; art offers questions, ambiguity, emotional nuance.
Our culture prizes efficiency, not reflective stillness or wonder — essential for appreciating art.
💡 What Maria Popova Suggests
Be present: Engage deeply, don’t just busy yourself with consumption.
Allow yourself to change your mind: Stay open and curious—don’t expect definitive answers.
Find stillness: Art thrives in quiet attention, not distraction.
🧭 Your Art Journey
Art isn’t just expression, it’s both personal and shared healing.
It transforms lives, not just as aesthetic enjoyment but as internal nourishment.
Feeling disconnected? Take a moment of quiet, notice what moves you. That's where true appreciation begins.
