Hughes (Chapter 6) & Walsh (Part IV)

Hughes
When Professor Kearney asked what makes an artist a good artist, I thought of her question in a very broad sense. I defined it as the degree in which a person can express themselves while utilizing a pencil, a brush, or whatever. Instead of a pencil or brush, it could even be a sword or a pair of nunchaku (numb chucks). An artist is such a broad concept.
First thing that comes to my mind, when I think of artist is a martial artist. Believe it or not, that force that drives a martial artists to express himself through a kata (prearranged form) is very similar to the force that drives a musician or painter.
Later in the discussion, it became clear to me that we were focusing our attention on the artist who is able to reproduce something they see, with that pencil or brush. If that is the case, then I believe true skill depends on that persons ability to pay particular attention to fine details, and then have an ability to translate that idea to a particular medium. But, attention to fine detail is not a requirement to create art, in my opinion.
Chapter 6 in Hughes book was rather refreshing, though it did not include the kind of insights that I was hoping for.
I can understand why so many people devote their entire selves to art. It feels god to express yourself. It's healthy.
Walsh
It's no surprise that most Westerners see shamans as primitive, demons, or madman. This semester, we've discussed Shamanism in great detail. I think we all have a pretty good understand of what shamans are and are not. I think this section really solidified my understanding, and gave me a taste of what shamans are up against.
Western scientists and psychiatrists are tough to beat, and even harder to convince. They consider anything not backed by empirical evidence, fanciful, and it isn't hard to see why.
Despite the lack of evidence supporters of shamans hold, I think it is dangerous for Westerners to label the unfamiliar or unique as inferior or dysfunctional.
I think there is something powerful about shamanism. A good look at history, and the art left behind, proves that Shamanism has been quite influential in our development. Even with all of the technology we have, it still has a place in our world. I find this interesting.
In Chapter 13, Walsh focused on several controversial tests that exist. They are designed to measure personality and spiritual mastery. I'm interested in reading more about this.
If the ability to bring back messages from the divine is real, then surely this skill is realized only by a few. Yet, there are probably thousands of people who claim to be shamans. So many people make a living (or fame) by means of deceit. Surely Shamanism has its charlatans as well. I cant help but think of the psychics who claim to be able to speak with the dead. The majority of these people are cold reading. Many of them have a past filled with fraudulent activities. For example, Silvia Browne, who is on Montel Williams from time to time, has been busted in the past for fraud. What a mess. And we are supposed to believe this woman (or people like her), as she pumps out book after book on the "other side".
I'd have a lot more faith in these village shamans, who aren't getting fame or fortune.
Despite the fact that I believe in the power of shamanism, I can not deny that there MUST be more evidence to support their craft before it can be taken serious by the mainstream of society.