The career’s ultimate paradox – especially for artists – is death.
I mean, an up and coming popular artist is one thing.
But an up and coming popular artist with a limited body of work passing away at 27 is a recipe for greatness.
It’s going out on top – and skipping the hangover of growing old and boring.
It’s almost like JFK.
People like the idea of JFK. They like the hope and the potential, more than his actual performance as a president.
Yeah, I don’t want that either though…
Dying young can really help an art career along. It’s the careerist’s ultimate paradox.
-Sarah Manguso, 300 Arguments (Amazon)