Have You Become The Ratatouille Anton Ego of Medium?
Check the Anton Ego speech and ask yourself.
The moment I wake up, I will not go and sing the rest of the song. But if your inner dialogue goes;
Another crappy article!
I would like you to pause and watch the Anton Ego speech from the movie Ratatouille.
I read everything.
I will not tell you to do the same.
I believe that anyone can cook, anyone can photograph and anyone can write.
When I was a professional photographer, the only difference being is I get paid to do photography.
Therefore, I would always correct other professional photographers who look down on those who took a few photography workshops and call themselves photographers.
I would tell them grudgingly, especially the ones who don't get the “job.”
But they are photographers, and anyone who has a smart phone is a photographer, some are good, some get paid, and some are great but are not paid.
Touché.
Whenever I see someone berates a writer for writing “crappy stuff” like the ones who share;
“All the above are my stories. ”
I even wrote about a lose-weight workout plan, including the one below and a story on what you need to know about what I learned from writing about health and fitness.
How to Lose 20 Pounds in 30 Days without Exercise like Tim Ferris
It makes me say, here goes another Anton Ego.
Anton Ego — the critic.
I love Ratatouille the movie.
I even love the character of Anton Ego because, in real life, we are both the protagonist and the antagonist.
“And everyone has a story. ”
Anton came to realize his mistakes. And sometimes, it takes time for us to understand what is happening around us and why people do the things they do.
Anton Ego Speech (Transcript)
In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little, yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment.
We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read.
But the bitter truth we critics must face, is that in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is probably more meaningful than our criticism designating it so.
But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the *new*.
The world is often unkind to new talent, new creations.
The new needs friends.
Last night, I experienced something new: an extraordinary meal from a singularly unexpected source. To say that both the meal and its maker have challenged my preconceptions about fine cooking is a gross understatement.
They have rocked me to my core.
In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for Chef Gusteau’s famous motto, “Anyone can cook.”
But I realize, only now do I truly understand what he meant. Not everyone can become a great artist; but a great artist *can* come from *anywhere*.
It is difficult to imagine more humble origins than those of the genius now cooking at Gusteau’s, who is, in this critic’s opinion, nothing less than the finest chef in France.
I will be returning to Gusteau’s soon, hungry for more.
Final thoughts
It isn’t for me to say why you feel a certain way when you read stories that talk about Medium.
Like many writers, I have written stories about Medium and my journey. But if you check my other stories, I also write about being gay and injustice.
I will not claim to be a great writer.
It is not what I aspire for.
Because chasing greatness stifles my creativity.
Not all my stories are polished, and English isn't my first language. Even as a child, my thoughts are in English, but I don’t speak it like a native speaker.
Not everyone can become a great artist; but a great artist *can* come from “anywhere.” — Anton Ego.
I don't consider myself one of the top writers here. I only made $100 once, but I have been given the writing bonus 3x in a row.
I have other successes here, some I shared publicly, some only to my family and friends, and some with my God and my Mom, who are both in heaven and guide me for what remains of my earthly life.
The new needs friends. — Anton Ego.
I was once new.
When I was new at photography, the old photographers helped me, and when I was new on Medium, the old writers helped me.
And now it is my turn to help the new writers on board and tell them;
Write freely, and you are welcome here.
Disclosure: A link to photography workshops goes to my Dad’s website. Check it out.
