In their creative endeavors, artists often partake in a struggle, the struggle between timeliness and timelessness. Timely works speak to the present, while timeless works speak to eternity—or at least to such a long span of time that humans might perceive it as eternity. Both of these have value; both have pros and cons. Which an artist ought to pursue depends upon the project at hand and the desired goal.
If art encapsulates truth, then artists who wish to create timely works might ask, “What is true now?” Artists who wish to create timeless works might ask, “What is true now, has been true for a substantial length of time, and will likely be true for the foreseeable future?” Fewer answers exist to the latter question than the former. As such, the artistic domain of the timely may seem freer than that of the timeless. Artists who observe the world around them will never lack for source material, and the inexorable forward march of time and the ever-shifting sociopolitical landscape will always provide inspiration. There can be great value in commenting on the present moment, in engaging in the discussions that shape the future. Some works designed to be timely also exhibit timeless qualities, for certain moments in history illustrate clearly the forces and tensions that recur throughout time.
However, timely works are often transient. They capture the attention, but that attention eventually escapes and gravitates toward something newer. There has been no shortage of fads throughout history that have held a stranglehold on pop culture before being largely forgotten, remembered only as historical curiosities, if at all.
Some works persist in popularity, but they are exceptions, not the rule. The Homeric epics are over two thousand years old, yet there are still those who read them. But for every ancient work that has withstood the ages, countless more have been lost to time, never to be recovered. Provided that the human race still exists three thousand years from now, which, if any, of the works created in this century will still be studied, cherished, remembered?
Even if some works exhibit timeless qualities, all works are products of the times from which they emerge. For example, Dante’s Inferno has left its mark on culture and remains a staple in literature courses, but the poem is replete with references to the politics of Dante’s time, so modern readers will find certain sections of the text almost incomprehensible without extensive annotations.
Though works inescapably reflect the time of their creation, some artists still strive to capture the eternal, and I respect that. Authentically commenting on the persistent elements of the human experience, rather than merely reiterating clichés, takes great effort, and few accomplish it.
To concretize this discourse—in other words, to make it more timely—I will relate it to myself. To me, culture seems to be in flux currently. In order to combat this, I want to create things that might have lasting value. I would be overjoyed if I were able to make some lasting contribution to the Western cultural canon, and though I will likely fail in this endeavor, I feel it’s a worthy goal to pursue. This desire is one of the reasons I prefer not to focus on recent events on this blog. Also, I feel that there are enough people doing that sort of thing elsewhere, and I don’t believe that’s where my talents lie. I am slow to develop opinions, and I need to let my thoughts develop for some time before I reveal them to others. Also, I am fairly young—I am twenty-two years old at the time of writing this—so I do not have a wealth of life experience on which to fall back when I create things; instead, I must take time to think things through.
I believe that in order for something to last in the public consciousness, in order for it to be of lasting value, it must offer some utility to others. I will aim to create things that last, both on this blog and in other areas of my life. I hope that this article has been of use to you and that you find other works of mine engaging, as well.
