Writer's Block: Arts v. smarts

[calzephyr]

[Error: unknown template qotd] Is it not possible to be both? After all, Brian May is both a famous musician and an astrophysicist :-)

Comments

[calzephyr77.livejournal.com]

Thank you :-) I have always loved Queen!

[zandperl.livejournal.com]

Having not actually earned a PhD in astrophysics, only my MS, I have learned enough to know that there are actually different levels of difficulty/expertise when it comes to a doctoral thesis. Not to belittle his accomplishments (I know few people who both both high level science and music), but suffice to say that it's my understanding that May is a better musician than astrophysicist.

I myself chose physics over photography in my freshman year of college due to the understanding that I was more likely to be able to pay the rent in science than in art. Of course I then chose to be a teacher and state employee rather than working in industry or at a research university, so I'm making less than I could, but I'm happy where I am. And objectively considering my skills and temperament, I am definitely better suited to science and academia than anything else. (Though I wonder how much of that is putting the cart before the horse - if I'd chosen art instead, would my temperament have developed differently?)

[calzephyr77.livejournal.com]

LOL, I wouldn't doubt it - the way I phrased the sentence sounded like he was famous for being both. Both occupations have the potential to pigeonhole a person as either being a nerd or lacking a brain.

In some ways I wonder the same as you, since I was a web developer when I wanted to go to art school. It's hard to say where a path can take you - I can go to art school now because I was a web developer. A friend of mine on the craft sale circuit (who can name herself if she likes) once said that the uptight angry crafty ladies out there tend to be people that *should* have gone to art school :-D I'm happy that you're happy where you are - so many people seem to be the opposite :-)

[tooaquarius.livejournal.com]

I'd actually pick the genius intellectual rather than the genius artist, oddly, but I'm happy I don't actually HAVE to.

One of the more talented artists in the local area here (he is an internationally exhibiting painter) also has 17 patents in electronics, a doctorate in ... physics?, and some other random degree. He did music and painting as hobbies while working in electronics in the US in the 70s.

[calzephyr77.livejournal.com]

Wow! It's really fascinating when you start asking people this question, because Mr. Old Manager is also a doctor and you'd never guess!