Devilish

I'm curious about evil, and our definition of it. I've always found art which explores and challenges our western definition of evil as extremely fascinating. Sympathy for the Devil isn't exactly unexplored territory---it's splattered throughout popular culture and modern philosophies. I remember studying the origins of rock and roll and its derivatives in Haitian and African religion, which see the embodiment of evil in an entirely different fashion. It absolutely intrigued me. 

Many who know me are aware of my interest in serial killers. I feel much of that is rooted in a desire to understand that which is dark and horrifying, an attempt to apply humanism to that which is inhumane. In my experience working with  EBD students, that which is deemed "bad" is often just terribly misunderstood, and therefore set on a trajectory of maladaptive behavior.  

I guess I just want to nurture all the little devils out there so that we can level out the harsh black and white implications of good vs. evil in our society. I think abandoning those principles will free our minds and guide us more toward acceptance. Granted, it's probably not best to abandon our ENTIRE moral code, but I'm just advocating the shifting of perceptions a bit. 

Anyway, I bring this up because this is a theme I'd really like to explore in my art. I need a new artistic focus and this might be my ticket to establishing emotional stability.