Theatre Design & Technology - Spring 1996 - 65

Book Reviews

Sylvia rH. Pannell, Editor

A Life in the Arts
Practical Guidance and Inspiration for
Creative & Performing Artists
Eric Maisel, PhD. \'ew York: TarcherlPutnam,
G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1994. ISB\ 0-8 4 - 66-6;
244 pages. paper, S15.95.
Eric Maisel's A Life ill tbe Arts, should be required
reading for anyone involved in artistic pursuits or those
who work with them, live with them or want to understand them. In this expanded workbook edition of Sta.J'illg Salle ill tbe Arts, Eric Maisel provides a
comprehensive look at what it takes to be an artist in today's world. The
book, divided into three parts, with an introduction, two appendices, and
a recommended reading list, is easy to read yet contains vital information
about the artist's personality, the artist's work and the artist's world.
The author, himself a novelist, is also an experienced psychotherapist who works exclusively with creative and performing artists. He discovered that there are certain psychological and practical challenges
encountered by all artists regardless of their discipline. This book is his
attempt to explain and clarify these challenges and to provide strategies
for managing them. Since the innumerable challenges that \\iIl confront
an artist seem never ending, tllis book outlines a process of self-guidance, in the form of exercises and strategies at the end of each chapter,
that can start at any time and serve a lifetime.
Eric Maisel's first step is to introduce a gUided writing progranl. He
details a fifteen point gUided writing progranl that, with practice, should
help the artist pinpoint challenges and develop ways to master them. In
addition. the author believes that guided writing can help any artist be
more disciplined, creative, and energetic.
Part One of the book, discusses at length the challenges of the artistic personality. While there is no single, defined personality, there are
similar questions and concerns in people who pursue the arts. Chapter
One contains an excellent discussion on the differences between creativity and talent. \X~lat is creati\~ty? What is talent? Do I, as an artist have either? Do they matter? To what degree? These questions are exanlined and
several strategies are given for self-evaluation. Chapter Two exanlines the
puzzle of personality. How are artists different from non-artists? What
personality traits are usehll for the artist? \Vhich are impediments to the
artist but useful in every day life? How can these various traits be balanced? This chapter is particularly useful to anyone who wants or needs
to understand what makes an artist tick. Chapter Three, titled "Of Moods
and Madness," discusses tile emotional traits that affect many artists. In
particular, depression is addressed as well as anger, anxiety, and madness. The strategies for identiJ)ing and \\wking with these challenges are
particularly detailed and extremely helphll.
Part Two, "The Challenges of the Work," is velY usehll in a practical
way. Chapter Four deals with blocks. It identifies sources of blocks, discusses each one thoroughly, and then provides strategies and exercises
for breaking through blocks. Chapter Five is a detailed look at the actual
business of art: making money, developing a career, creating opportunities, negotiating the marketplace, and making personal sense of the mechanics and metaphysics of the business of art. The author provides solid
advice for creating a step-by-step plan to achieve success in the business

arena. Chapter SLx, is a frank discussion of the pros and
cons of obscurity and stardom.
Part Three is titled "The Challenges of Relationships." In two chapters, the author discusses artists'
needs to be both isolated and interactive at different
times. Chapter Seven, ''The Re\vards and Perils of Isolation," discusses the need for solitude and isolation in order to foster creativity. On the other hand, too much
isolation can debilitate an artist's mental health. How to
strike a balance? How much time does an artist need
alone? Does a particular artist's temperament lend itself
to long or short periods of isolation? These questions
and strategies for examining them form the core of tllis chapter. The final
chapter addresses "Social Interactions and Community." Issues such as
art obsessions, dependency, autllOrity and control, self-esteem, and envy
and competition are exanlined and questions are asked that will affect
each artist differently.
The appendices include a transition program-steps to a new life
in or out of art-a nicely detailed resources guide di\~ded by genre, and
a large reading list subdi\~ded to relate to the book's chapters.
I found tllis book exciting, interesting and usehll. It does not have to
be read in sequence, one can pick it up at any point and find tllOught
provoking questions and valuable strategies for finding answers. I recommend all artists read this book to help them \\ith self-discovery. Anyone who needs to interact \\~th an aItist should also read tllis book to
help tllem understand how and why artists behave as tlley do. Finally, students in the arts and tlleir teachers should read this book so they can
make positive choices about tile artist's Life lll1d demystify the process of
creating art as they pursue their studies.
Reviewed by H. M. Beckwith,
Theatre Design Professor, University of Northern Iowa.

/Anolber reviewer bad a di./ferenl opinion abonllbis book's be/pIli/ness.]

A Life in the Arts
Self-help books, an invention of Renaissance humanism, were brought
to hili popularity by the printing press and the rise of a modern middle
class, with its religious protestation that anyone could become a better
Christian simply by reading the Bible for llim or herself. By the end of
the 19th century; soul-saving bwulle job-sa\~ng and self-improvement
texts were available in subjects ranging from imprO\~ng home sewing
skills to improving sales techniques in the marketplace. Reading was a
widespread bourgeois skill, and reading a book could make anyone a
better human, not just be an improved prince.
Sooner or later someone was bound to get around to writing a book
about being a better human being as an artist. Eric Maisel first brought
out a slimmer version of his self-improvement for the artist book in 1992
under the title Sta.J,illg Salle ill tbe Arts. It enjoyed sufficient popularity
to occasion the current edition. A Life ill tbe Arts will give comfort to
many. It is filled with the kind of good sense (and culture-bound) advice
dispensed by the Likes of Ann Landers. And true to its genre, it includes in
its bibliography some down-to-earth books on such matters as marketTD&T

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Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Spring 1996