What Are You?: The Fine Art of Labels

One of my aunts called me last week, just to catch up. She asked me about my academic status (I went AWOL), and as I tried to explain my fluid situation to her, she replied:

“What are you exactly? I mean, what do I call you? What do you call what you do?”

I don’t blame her for finding it confusing to label me. After all, I was a film student for two years, then I was a painting major for three more years. To support myself, I mostly work as a writer, although I’ve accepted the occasional video work and sold a couple of paintings. Both my work and educational life are a stark contrast to what she’s experienced with her generation. After high school, they went to college, and the major they chose defined their careers.

It’s not that black and white anymore, at least not for me.

The Stuff-Maker

One of my teachers invited me to an exhibit opening which featured several artists. She encouraged me to talk to them by literally grabbing me and placing me in front of one sculptor, hoping that we could talk about art.

“So, you’re an artist too?” The sculptor said to me.

Art is a loaded word, carrying a huge baggage of value judgment. So I reply with the most honest, straightforward thing I can come up with.

“Erm, no. I make stuff. I guess you could say I’m a stuff-maker, hahaha. ”

Both the sculptor and my teacher looked at me as if I said I was a tentacled monster in disguise.

But what I said was true. I do make stuff. They can be paintings, comics, stories, blog posts, graphics, eggplant lasagna, or even silly songs I sing to my cat. Categorizing what I do is the least of my concerns. My priority is to make stuff, and that’s where I’ll pour 90% of my energy. Any attempts to label myself will be inaccurate in some way and that’s why I’ve stopped trying.

At the end of the day though, if people really want the comfort of labeling me, I’m just going to say that I make stuff. I’m a stuff-maker. Strange looks be damned.

If you enjoyed this post, you might like these:

1. Taking Shortcuts
2. The Treachery of Labels: What You Call Yourself vs. What You Really Do