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Originally Posted by Elphaba
Pan, given your vocation, don't you find Lennon's lifestyle and the example he set to be a contradiction? Or did his death bring you to your current place?
Chapman couldn't deal with the contradiction of Lennon's life vs. his lyrics.
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Good question, but not really. Everyone has contradictions and hypocracies in their lives, some unfortunately have their every step publicized, I can't imagine how hard that would be.
I look at Lennon's work and see how what great love, optimism and true belief man could do better in him. His private life and drug addictions were just those private, at least for me. I think, if I'm not mistaken, he was truly in recovery from drugs when he was killed. Perhaps, at the end he had found some inner peace, which would make his murder even that much more tragic.
It's interesting to read some biographies on him, but they don't and can not influence how he has touched me with his artwork. He truly was 1 in a billion.
His work inspired me in many ways, it helped me form my political beliefs and who I wanted to be. Even moreso now, like I said I find "Watching the Wheels" very inspiring for me, and every so often in group I'll run music therapy, play that song and have clients write down what the song means to them and their recovery. I'm the whack job at work, with all these "new age ideas".... go figure lol.... although I am also the wonderboy that a lot of old time counselors have taken under their wing and teach me as well as revitalize their belief in the work we do. It is one of the highest burnout jobs, if you let it.
I think John, the KINKS, and others inspired me to be myself. They taught me that we need to care about what goes on and to never be afraid to speak out. Look at what Lennon endured for speaking out, the losses and sacrifices..... I feel personally, my gift back to John and those who came before him (not many have come after him) is to speak out as best as I can.
Chapman was a nutcase, had it not been Lennon I have a feeling he would have gotten someone.
But I also believe it is the man of peace's fate that he dies by another's hand in violence. As stated above when you look at the people of peace who died by violent means it is easy to draw that conclusion.
Meembo,
I'm an addictions counselor/student who is getting ready to open a therapeutic recovery house soon. I plan to have a coffeshop with stage for artshows, poetry readings, plays and music concerts all written and performed by clients. I'm big into art therapy. I feel art is a way to release the negativity that feeds your need for addiction. So, with art you can release your inner demons.
I think art, some psychoanalysis and finding one's own spirituality is the best path for a true recovery. I plan to combine all 3, for some it will work, for others it won't.