An Academic In A World of Creatives

X = Abnormality

I will admit, my shameless plug for my girlfriend's new shop in last week's post did not really fit in with the ensuing theme. (Again, please go check out her Depop and Instagram, it has a recent addition and she really is very talented!)

Anyway, it is okay that it did not fit in. I am only human after all. I did, however, want to make amends by dedicating this week's post to the creative industry and provide a little background as to why I am so in awe of it.

That's My Family Tree (Ramz)

My apologies for the quality of that photo but I am pretty sure you could easily make out who is who.

I actually don't know too much about my family tree. However, I do know quite a lot about my parents.

Both Mother and Father were teachers. Mother taught D.T. - and Maths?! - in the local secondary, Father also taught D.T. and Electronics at the nearby University. Clearly they are both extremely well-qualified creative individuals. In fact, Mother, now part-owner and manager of a financial planning firm, was so creative, she couldn't live without it. Shameless plug number two incoming. Yep, that's right. She has reincarnated the jewellery career she began in her youth in the form of her own hobbyist Etsy shop.

This is not just any Etsy shop. It's affiliate Instagram account is in fact managed and maintained by yours truly. Of course, my social media management career is in its infancy but that account was a total mess until I came along. As for now, I would say it's more of a minor clutter. There's nowhere to go but up! (Mary Poppins).

Now, let's talk about Brother Dearest. 

Growing up, I was always in his creative shadow. If we wanted to make a den, I would mostly watch from the sidelines. Anything I brought home from school was typically half as good as anything he would bring. Heck, even his handwriting is twice as legible as mine. Of course, then he went on to do creative GCSEs followed by a College Art Diploma and University Degree in Graphic Design. The dude literally nailed his dream job within a year of graduating. What a champ. Don't even get me started on his equally talented girlfriend.

Every single person I have been surrounded by whilst growing up is a successful creative. As for the final nail in the coffin, I went and got myself a creative girlfriend! (I believe I may have already mentioned that you should check out her shop... but you should check out her shop).

The Ugly Duckling

So what about me?

When you think of academia, you usually think of someone who has been forced into it because "Art isn't a career," but for me, I just suck at Art.

I do a History Degree. Say what you will about the creativity required to fashion a comprehensive argument out of the precious little your brain may remember, History is the antithesis of creative. I literally study everything that has been done before. I am the physical equivalent of CTRL+C / CTRL+V.

But It's Not All Doom and Gloom?

After twenty years of intense creative inferiority, I have learned a couple of things:

1. If you are creatively minded, run with it. Avenge your fallen (favourite) blogger and go have the time of your life. You can be successful in the arts regardless of whether anyone, especially parents, tell you otherwise, just ask literally my entire family.
2. I may not be able to draw, sculpt, or design as well as anyone in my family, but I sure as heck can write a story as well as the best of them. My essay feedback frequently includes "the essay is extremely well written" prior to the "but" PLUS I have a two-digit following for this wonderful blog! If that doesn't scream 'creative' genius, I don't know what does.
3. Anyone noticed how I have to always operate in 3s? It's a personality trait by this point.

There you have it. I may be an academic in a world of creatives but I wouldn't change that for the world. Much like my younger self watching in awe as his Brother builds their next den, I will never stop admiring all the wonderful things going on around me. Not only is it far more interesting than I imagine a dinner table full of sophisticated academics, it's also akin to having a constantly changing museum in your own home. You even get free food there! 

Not to mention, after all is said and done, I get to be the one that writes about it.

Stay Safe.