An artist is defined by art. A sportsperson
is indelible extension of his or her talent. Without art an artist is disembodied
presence, a footballer outside arena is a transactional value. Special talents
are admired for their exceptional skills which is very much embodied in the act
of creating. Highest tribute to a talent is appreciation of skills. Showcasing the
person outside his skills as trophy to ogle and jostle to be photographed with
is crudest way of celebration. It is vulgar expression of adolescent society incapacitated
to comprehend what must be valued. When this behavior is mainstream one can be quite
sure how deep the rot is.
Best footballer doesn’t come to
play football in this godforsaken part of the world but to wave at the crowd. Best
athlete doesn’t come to participate in athletic event but to show his
cricketing skills or dance moves. Best tennis player lands to participate in
fashion event or some ridiculous subpar event as gimmick. The best in the world
seems to have evaluated this society in its lowest denominator while the inbred
corrupt moneybags lacking basic intelligence or morals see this as an opportunity
to play the herd. The disembodied talent is taken around to excite the herd as
also valuable mandatory lessons on blessing and fate. Herd gets lessons on what is
to be nobody and what is to be somebody, and a clear path for fate and blessing. Afterall
these bunch of useless people stampeding to get photographed with disembodied talent
aren’t anyone with any special talent but chance of fate! They really don’t care
about the game nor they need to. There is a different game they are adept in and every occasion is an occasion for this positioning. This
kind of crude celebrity culture thrive in a society that seriously lack genuine
talents hence presence of exceptional talent becomes a miracle. It therefore is
more than sighting but a darshan -that they are trained to stampede for. The cringe
show is bereft of any self-awareness. This is opposite of appreciating talent, it
is an affliction, a disease. Market monetize this transactional base stampeding
for disembodied presence packaged to ogle.
Exceptional talents are not
confined to market defined outlet that exaggerate but all across us in every
small way. I really don’t know what is there to interact with a uniquely talented
sportsperson or even an artist since the skills is in the act of expression
already presented. I also really wouldn’t like to meet a talented writer since he
or she has expressed, the aesthetics is beyond their presence and very likely
not in interaction. People I would like to interact would be scientists (or an original
philosopher like say Camus). What talented scientist achieved matters but more of
what matters is the way of thinking and insights this thinking carries into unrelated
probes. Yes, if you come across exceptional talents like footballer Messi, who is
applauded and adored by millions, then you could wave or acknowledge but this
stampede is embarrassing if not disgraceful. Appreciate the game, applaud the
skills and embodied talent as it performs. Maybe one day you may see the game
beyond the players and the art beyond the artists.
