- MBTI
- infj
- Enneagram
- ....
Isn't that really how it works in the first place?
Thats what I'm saying, especially in practice as I have seen it.
Isn't that really how it works in the first place?
Its not?
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that really how it works in the first place?
“Jumping the Stack”: A Less Sustainable/Effective Means of Satisfying the Inferior Function
INJs Physically producing art or otherwise working to directly actualize (Se) ideas
“From the Top of the Stack Down”: A Less Direct, But More Sustainable Means of Satisfying the Inferior
INJs
Perceive and generate theories/visions/ideas (Ni) that indirectly beautify or perfect the world (Se)
I was reading this forum post about Lenore Thomson's interpretation of Ni ( http://www.personalitynation.com/ju...-interpretation-introverted-intuition-ni.html )
I think you could pretty well read between the lines and replace "mental supremacy" (Te) to "social supremacy" (Fe) to illustrate the Se inferior problems.
In my own life and work I think those were the two defining stresses I faced in my own artistic work. I've been in exile and house arrest (not literal ;D) for some time now to grapple with the problem as to HOW exactly do I want to exist and express myself?
I don't personally think it's the WHAT as much as the HOW. I feel the real stresses that the "mystery INFJ" who's comments sparked this thread has faced may indicate a real problem that many in the creative professions have to face at one poit of another concerning the harsh reality of the fact of how "the system works" may not be entirely INFJ friendly. Things are done a certain way. In the music business for bands it's mostly first earning your stripes touring and building a rep, getting signed...yadda yadda...building an "artistic identity" and body of work. However much of it's just expected socializing and schmoozing, network building and if you want backing you've got to be somewhat "selling" because the labels etc would be taking a financial risk and want bang for their buck. Then there's the fact random people want to become involved with your private life for several reasons. ...Becoming an "idol" is kind of crazy (whatever the magnitude that it happens). People confuse you for some nut job because of the way Ni may express in outlandishly seeming ways in your work as you're working on some theme from unusual perspectives, yet in person you're subdued and "kind of ordinary" (Fe communication...lest hassle to play by the book unless to express or embody some distinct idea via a socio-visual "identity" ala David Bowie...but hey who can do that forever?) ..now all THAT combined is what I think can cause you to burn out...
Many of my favorite artists that I think are INFJ tend to become famous first, disillusioned next and retire from the limelight to beaver away just creating for the sake of creation almost (Like Trent Reznor and Kate Bush...Prince...etc). Some take a break and do something else (Leonard Cohen went to a monastery, Kate Bush became a housewife with a penchant for gardening.) Sometimes they emerge with a very different, more autonomous, less dependent of the outside world, way of working bringing these artistic visions to life. Kate Bush who is a notorious perfectionist at fifty mentioned in her interview that she's more open to leaving mistakes and imperfections in her work , there being a more "human" impressionistic element emerging in her work, which would coincide nicely with Se development. (http://undertheivybook.blogspot.fi/) One other aspect was being able to actually live outside one's work, enjoying living in the moment more, not just being the errand boy for art. Being a human too, a human who does art, not art that does human...
To bring this full circle, I will say that I believe that producing wisdom/insight (a la Ni) IS, in fact, an artform. It’s an N art. As an N art, as stated above, it requires different tools for expression – abstract tools – tools that cater more directly to the mind than the five senses, namely words. As N dominants we need to work on seeing the CONCEPT as art. That’s our gift – the gift of insight.
Hey. I have been grappling with this as of lately.
I have a lot to say about this as I'm and INFJ, and I identify as an artist. I did it all through high school and university. But does that make me an artist? I studied art history to the nines, got straight A's and even A+'s. I sold one canvas in my life.
I have realized lately that my art is hard for people to 'enter' and enjoy. I often pick subject matter that is too personal, and I have also noticed that I am projecting my ego/id/super ego into the work directly. And this kind of psychological profiling in one's work...I think it prevents the enjoyment of it. It is not, as my ISFJ sister said, 'a picture of something cool/neat/pretty'. It's well executed, and it has layered meaning to me. But maybe not to the viewer.
Also, let me say this: in university, I happened to read the Letters of Vincent Van Gogh, to his Brother Theo. Huge impact in the sense that I realized...Van Gogh was an INFJ! (Shudder) Now, if this isn't shocking and even a little disturbing, for an artist who is an INFJ, let's just say, I didn't want to end up like Van Gogh, painting for his values and his idealisms and his hopes for humanity...while all his other artist friends just painted a really fine nude ass... I'm saying, Van Gogh was a true idealist INFJ. He also identified as an artist. His goal was to express himself through art. Meanwhile, his artist friends used art to document the beauty and enjoyment around them. His canvases were tortured, and it's partly only because of his tragic story that we still look at his art today. We label him a 'romantic'.
Now, if Van Gogh had been born in the era of abstract expressionism, which is essentially the era he grandfathered, he might have been more successful if he focused on only the abstract elements of his work...instead of painting peasants. His work was not aspirational, it was too honest, too real.
I digress.
But in sum, I would say, I have not explored abstract painting yet, although I want to. I think it will get me in touch with the physicality of the paint, and the pure formal qualities, without being weighed down by personal baggage, issues and lofty idealisms.
Sometimes I wish I was more superficial.
So I think that is what the lady writing this article is talking about. Maybe she means, sometimes the INFJ can make their work too personal and therefore unrelatable. That's just an idea I have.
I don’t see how creating any type of Art could be negative for anyone, unless said person were a perfectionist never satisfied with their own creations.
I can relate to that, there is probably a whole book of poetry burned up years ago, along with many drawings.
But I have found that you create what you create and then it no longer belongs to you to pick apart.
How many paintings have they found via x-rays and MRIs under some of the most famous paintings by people we consider to be Masters?
How many books sit on library shelves collecting dust that contains nothing short of their Author’s heart and soul poured into the pages?
You have to create it - then let it go.