Cultural Event # 4: David LaMotte

David Lamotte began his talk discussing "what is art" and "what is activism". He then began to discuss whether or not famous people should openly discuss politics. He thinks that people should speak out about everything and run the dialogue on political issues. Then he started talking about how everywhere you go there are television sets. He said in order for you to have a conversation you need to tune out the televisions. He said our society has become better ignorers instead of better listeners. As an artist, it is your job to listen, look, and percieve. He said that half of art is perceiving and the other hald is rendering. Then he started talking about debating issues with people. The best way to persuade somebody is to relate to the person and find a commonality. Art is a powerful way to bridge the gap between people with different ideas or views. He said he responds to music in two diferent ways: cerebrally and emotionally. He talked about how he can see a work of art and think "oh this is cool, but it doesnt move me". The purpose of art is to make our experiences immediate. He then returned to actvisim and said that it can be positive or negative. He then talked about his career. He is a singer and songwriter that plays accoustic guitar. He likes to write songs about everything. He said he writes about protests, but is not a protest singer. He writes funny songs, but is not a commedian. He writes love songs but isnt a love song writer. He writes christian songs, but is not a religious singer. He just does it all. He likes people that are different from him and have different beliefs and ideas. They intrigue him. He then showed us a video of this small non profit organization he started in Guatemala. He said we can change the world. Yay.