Making art for yourself

I watched a video on YouTube titled "Stopping at McDonald's in 1989" and as I watched I couldn't help but be impressed that this guy was doing what so many YouTubers do today, but nearly 20 years before YouTube was invented. This video has been viewed over 1,000,000 times.

The guy talks to his camera in the car, with his friend, and around groups of people–talking to the camera like it's completely normal behavior. No care to what those around him think and no care what the video would ever turn into.

Maybe he was simply making it for a memory later in life. He certainly wasn't trying to make the next viral video.

Instead, he created a time capsule of the late 80s. The cars, the dress, the prices, the way he speaks. Everything about it is pretty cool to see.

It reminded me that sometimes we don't have to have a purpose to our creativity. It's good to make something just to make it. Even if we're sure it's going to be terrible (or at least we've convinced ourselves it will be terrible.)

Be creative for the sake of exercising creativity. Make something you don't think will work. Make something just for yourself–even if nobody else is doing that thing. Especially if nobody else is doing it. It may take 30 years, but those things can turn into magic.

Even if they don't, the process of creating for yourself is magic in and of itself.

One man's trash is another man's treasure.  Make art for yourself, not the masses.