A Manifesto

Art

i. Lies weaken art.
ii. Artifice may be used to tell the truth.
iii. Truth is beauty, but beauty is not truth. (reordered Keats)
iv. Art is ideas + fantasy + artifice.
v. Art is to put love into the world. (paraphrased Harriet the Spy)

People

i. People are higher than art. Art is an idealized substitute for things that can be had with people: a friend fantasy, a sex fantasy, a romantic fantasy, a travel fantasy, etc.
ii. Love + truth-telling = friendship
iii. Your personality is a reflection of your past. You can alter it only within those parameters.
iv. Telling the truth is scary as hell, which makes it the most fun you can have with another person short of sex and humor.
v. A beautiful love is everyone’s goal.

Religion

i. God is the source of truth and love.
ii. God is the highest artist. His heaven is perfect Art.
iii. God can not forgive lies, stealing, and destruction because he is God. Jesus can.
iv. Praying will improve your relationships and your art.
v. Being destructive, unless you have special permission, will separate you from God and his followers.