Ethan Hawke always manages to talk about big life-affirming concepts without ever sounding pretentious or overbearing. He's down to earth, funny and thoughtful. This is the perfect ten minute video to get you back on the creative wagon.
well put. This vid has piqued my interest anyway, he does speak very well. I couldn't agree with him more, especially on the making yourself look silly part. Some people never get that about me...and they are normally not very creative people
I'm more or less out of the loop; is TED now not the same as this "old TED"? I don't watch that many TED talks so I wouldn't know, only some here and some there. Extraordinary ideas take many forms though.
I don't understand your video releases because I speak only Russian !!! TED Authors Should Know About You All Over The World, In Every Language Of The World! I ask you TED speakers to support your viewers and petition to keep the TED RUclips channel in Russian !!! Thanks! We watch you only in a language that is understandable for us in our countries! #savetedrussia
@@SuperScratchproof I failed at so many different artistic mediums, music, drawing, videos. I finally stopped trying so hard to express myself, and now that I'm just having fun making videos, I understand who I am better, and make art that's a more honest expression of who I am.
Is it just me, or has Ethan Hawke become one of the most fascinating people in the world of art over the past couple of decades. He is thoughtful, articulate, different and inspirational. Love this!
I totally agree with you. I have been a fan for a very long time. What I like about him, is that it seems he has played by his rules, done what he has wanted to do.
I'm a taxi driver. Most of my conversations with passengers are just small talk. When I pick up people from the airport, I'll often get asked about local restaurants or things to do in town. But I also get conversations started by asking about what they watched on any of the streaming services. From there, we start a conversation about the things we enjoy watching, and while this seems like a boring conversation, it's not. People talk about the movie that made them cry, or the show they had to binge watch because they couldn't stop watching, it hooked them in so thoroughly. You can see how animated they are, and the conversation continues while they pay, rushing their words to try and fit their point in before they have to get out. Just like poetry or any other art form, movies and TV shows can capture your attention, imagination, and feelings. And yet, talking about them can be considered just a half step up from talking about the weather. I have regular customers who ask for me to be the driver sent out to pick them up, just so we can have a conversation about the latest episode of their favourite show while on the way to their destination. The trip to their destination is what they needed to get about their day. The conversation was what they needed to enjoy their day. When I get a customer I can provide both to, it makes my day.
Evan I loved your comment because it reminded me of Paterson, the film by Jim Jarmusch. A life well lived and yes! You provide something amazing to the people's lives you cross
I was so happy he included his brother, a leader, a military man, as someone who was creative. As much as I love the arts, I have struggled to find value as a not creative or artistic person. I don't dance, act or sing. I don't draw or paint. My "creativity" has always been in organization, administration, leadership, creating a bridge of understanding between higher ups those who are less knowledgeable. I love to write...business letters. That is my poetry. I think knowing and accepting who you are is the most creative gift anyone has to offer the world.
I was a programmer and I thought that was a very creative field. A well written program was like poetry to me. I practiced law for 20 years as well. I thought there was slit of creativity in that as well. Any field can be creative.
Creativity isn't just the arts. It can be science, mathematics, and a lot of other things which don't fall into a stereotypical category. I'm very much an artistic type. I write music, I draw, but I struggle with numbers. My sister is the exact opposite, as she is a maths wiz but doesn't have the aptitude to do anything traditionally artistic. Unfortunately the arts are still seen as some sort of lazy "get out of real work" scheme, which is completely untrue. It take a piece of your soul with every new project.
If being a fool is all it takes, I'm on the right track lol. I'm not trying to make things great or perfect but just unique and honest which often ends up being weird or foolish. I even referenced my username in a diss track I made about myself "BuffNipz, a name fit for a fool". Guess I'm on the right track!!!
@@oneseeker2 I think the point is not to rely on him or somesone else telling you what to do but yourself, follow your love, the path that makes you want to strive for success, yourself, your calling. You guide yourself but you have to know yourself first, you can't do that without going through the disapproval from others, mistakes or as he said, making a fool of yourself, in the eyes of other people. As they can be very unreliable critics as well. Allowing yourself to be the person you are or the person you want to be. Allowing yourself permission to be creative, finding the passion and all that stuff. That can make you passionate about living or finding what you're passionate about. Your calling in life.
• Stop doing what everyone else is doing. Stop being boring. • Create more. Consume less. Express yourself through a creation outlet, e.g., drawing, photography, cooking, etc. • Creativity is breathing. You need to breathe in in order to breathe out.
Man, I believe in every word Ethan said. I spent the first part of my life being ashamed and embarrassed to express myself. Not anymore. I am transformed into my own personal fool and I love it! I’m making music, creating art, making BBQ for others, writing screenplays and all of it gives fulfillment.
Permission to be creative is also about permission to fail - creativity is about doing hundreds of things not quite right and then finally putting out something that just 'clicks' with people. Quality comes via quantity.
1:29 "most of us really want to offer the world something of quality. something that the world would consider good, or important. and that's really the enemy. because it's not up to us whether what we do is any good." 3:50 "what do you love? and if you get close to what you love, who you are is revealed to you and it expands" 6:56 "kids use any opportunity they have. they try to use it to impress upon you their individuality" 7:05 "there is a thing that worries me sometimes whenever you talk about creativity because it can have that kind of feel that it is just nice, you know, or it's warm, it's something pleasant. IT'S NOT. it's VITAL. it's the way we heal each other. in singing our song, in telling our story, in inviting you to say- hey, listen to me and I will listen to you. we are starting a dialog and when we do that, that healing happens." 7:43 " If you want to help your community, if you want to help your family, if you want to help your friends, you have to EXPRESS yourself. and to express yourself you have to know yourself. it's actually super easy, you just have to follow your love." 8:06 "don't read the book that you should read. read the book that you want to read. don't listen to music that you used to like. take your time to listen to some new music." All I have to write is WOW!!!! this is the best talk I have listened to in months. pure pearls of wisdom. well said, well-edited. thank you!
"The world is an unreliable critic" - How perfectly relevant to the digital age that we live in. The endless critique of every aspect of ourselves is damaging our ability to express our individuality and to engage in dialogue from a differing view. Thank you, Mr. Hawke, for putting your words out into the world.
“If you get close to what you love, who you are is revealed to you, and it expands." Brilliant. But I guess most people are stuck at first base - surviving. Beyond that everything is a luxury nowadays.
nah, i dont i think that is what he meant. basically he said: get to know your self better. once you try, once you know and accept your self, life itself will give you it "sweet" things. not by doing something that people considering "big" or "grand", just as simple as know your self, be kind, be true.
I once saw an interview with Tarantino, he was trying to do everything in his film, until someone told him, “you’re job is to direct! Let everyone else worry about their job” I then met someone who was writing a book, I told him I want to write a book too, but get caught up in the whole process, he says, “your job is to write, let the editor worry about editing, let the publisher worry about publishing” and it opened my mind. I believe a bunch of ppl will see this video and say “wtf is he talking about!??” But that’s the point, Ethan is being a “fool” in this video. My dad once told me, “the road you’re heading down, I’m already walking back”
"You may feel foolish, you may even look foolish ... Do the thing anyway." This quote and this type of thinking has helped me so much. As someone who has often been scared of what others think, sometimes you just gotta do what you feel is right no matter what
@@saffiyahissoapy Me too, I stopped making videos because of that anxiety. Finally I started this new channel where I'm anonymous so if my friends see my stuff I can claim it's not me. Lol maybe not the best option but I love the freedom it's given me to make weird videos
My mom and I were seated in a restaurant having lunch one day, there was a lull in the conversation. She looked me straight in the eye and told me she admired the way I was unafraid to be foolish. Further she revealed she was afraid of appearing foolish. At the time I didn’t know quite how to interpret this comment. I didn’t realize that being creative was ok. Now, years later I thank her for the huge compliment she paid me.
Easily the most powerful ted talk i've ever seen. I dont remember the last time i felt a piece inside of me click back into place like this. Thank you Ethan
“The fool is the precursor to the savior.” - Carl Jung A lot of what Ethan is talking about here is self-realisation. After our basic needs are met we must satisfy the soul's needs. Making and consuming art is part of that.
As soon as he asked “Do you think human creativity matters?” I just started bawling because it matters so much to me, and yet I’ve struggled to create at various moments in my life because of other people’s opinions. It hurts when we don’t create. We lose a piece of ourselves, our soul, our humanity. That’s why it hurts so much. Thank you, Ethan - and TED. I needed this. So much 🙏😌🧡✌️
You're always creating, just looking at it in the wrong way. Go outside and walk in the grass, you're making a footprint, go talk to someone and do a reaction with your face, you just evoked (created) a feeling in someone else. Just focus on what works in the moment and find a way to have fun.
Dear My Indigo Blues, do you still want to create? I have a special online group for creatives to give yourself permission, a safe space and community to create. Message me or reply here if you are interested. :)
Yeees, I wondered why I started reading the comments on videos that resonated with me because I never had before. Thank you so much for simply asking that question!
I do that a lot. After watching sthg that truly moved me, I always go in the comments section to see which part resonated with others, why that part mattered for them and not the other one. Rarely, reading the comments kills the magic
So my dad passed when I was 18. I’m almost 40 now and obviously it’s been quite a bit of time since I’ve heard anything from my dad. Just watching this now and out of nowhere I feel like I’m getting some real fatherly advice from my old man all these years later. Very weird and very meaningful. Thank you Ethan Hawke and everyone who helped put this together
Thank you for sharing. I started to cry halfway through for the same reason, even though my dad is still alive. I wish I had someone in my life who were able to give me this kind of advice. Thank you, Ethan.
@@MelanieSakowski OK that's fine, I'm not always here online, but I want us to keep in contact, please do send me your e--mail, so we can keep in contact.
This is one of the most sorted talks I've heard in a while. Especially the part where he says art is no more a luxury but sustenance, I felt that. It spoke to me.
@@ethanhawke8369 needless to say, all your works are amazing. But my favorites would be- Dead poet's society, Before sunrise, before sunset and before midnight. I can watch these works of art a million times, feel them over and over again, and it still won't be enough! Thank you for creating these masterpieces ❤ Stay healthy 🌼
@@manvikansal so lovely, I'm glad I have been able to impress you with my movies listed above. It's always a wonderful feeling for me when I get positive reviews from my fans and admirers of my works. Where are you from?
We just do not have to consider art as this highly pretentious thing. I mean, sometimes it is that and sometimes it is just very simple, a word, a joke, a thought. Not every art is worth the same. And thats okay. Creativity is always worth something. Everything is art and art is everything.
I completely agree with you on this....he's incredibly brilliant. One of my absolute favourite movies with him as the lead is Gattaca. If you haven't watched it you really should I highly recommend.
It's as if Ethan Hawke is still playing his character, Todd Anderson, from Dead Poet's Society. It's as if Todd decided to live the life he imagined his best friend, Neil Perry (played by Robert Sean Leonard), would want: the life of an actor. O Captain, my Captain! Thank you.
Looks like Ethan got personnally caught up in this character. Why ? Cause he seems involved in poetry. That's not a matter of coincidence whether he chose this exemple.
*"Kids don't have any habits and they don't even care if they're any good or not"* He's right. As an artist myself I'm sure alot of creatives out there could confirm the fact that we are sort of constantly in competition with each others? It puts everyone underpressure in order to become 'someone' or 'the next big thing' when really we should simply thrive to create for creation's sake.
Thankyou for 'saying this out loud'. It's an unfair conditioning in the belief of scarcity and that artists have to compete for limited limelight and income... the need for creativity in the context of this video isn't even acknowledged in the arts. But Ethan's message is what we need to hear.
"Creativity is vital… it's the way we heal each other." Well said, Ethan! This is so beautiful and true:) I hope everyone steps into their creative freedom. I know I am.
Thank you. I'm almost 40 years old. The job I've been hiding out in for nearly 20 years is likely gone. My kids are almost grown. My wife and family have always told me to pursue my writing. I have a list of more than 60 ideas (big and small) that I still haven't written. Fear and doubt have held me back most of my life. I don't believe in myself. But the clock is ticking and I've been standing near the edge for far longer than I wish I had. Daring myself to take that leap. For better or worse, to see what happens. Things like this help me to inch a bit closer to that edge. Thank you for the reassuring push.
@@thomaskantor but is that path the same today as it was yesterday? Or even 10 minutes ago? Are you having the same experience as the person who is walking the path with you at that same moment? None of this is metaphorical. Every experience is unique.
This is so inspiring and comppeling. If you have ever felt something like what he's describing you'll get right away what he meant to say. Art, expression and to be alive, living the moment is so powerful, inebriating. Thanks, Ethan! Let's all play the fool.
"Art is wrinkled & sad but beautiful; Just like the moon in sky, that's so dull. Hope people live in art, even if they die; And I hope, art lives even after the last sunshine." What do you think about this?
I'm 33. My first favorite movie, that I cant count how many times I've watched, is Gattaca. I was 11. Hearing the first actor that ever had an impact on my life, say things that I've also come to realize over the years, feels pretty damn good. Not gonna lie. I've never heard anyone else say that it's not up to you what you are. That others decide what you are and you have zero control of it. Just try and love what you do, and do what you love as kindly as you can. After that, hope for the best. But in the end it doesn't matter, because you lived up to your core character and never wavered. You played the fool. Now that, my friends, is called living. One last thing. Try to remember, the only happiness you will find at the top of the mountain, is the happiness you brought up there with you.
Nice. Yeah. Be yourself, everyone else is already taken. Find interesting things and connect with other people. Enjoy creativity and be creativ. Play the fool. This is a unimaginable cruel world at times, but exactly these things make it livable.
Very rarely do I ever watch a video that touches me as deep as that one does. Too often we, creative people, get tangled in the mindset of not wanting to look foolish. We settle for much less than what we deserve. We give up on our dreams, goals, and end up losing ourselves in the process. Do NOT be afraid to look foolish, or feel foolish. Be BOLD and mighty forces will come to your aid.
His mom bought my handmade pottery from me. The value people place on creativity is passed down in families. My parents collected original art and encouraged me. Without creativity I’m really nothing.
He has a way of being extremely deep while expressing it in a very light-hearted manner. I was in tears before reaching the middle of the video. Thank you Ethan for your life experience. And thank you for the music, beautiful finale. [...and remember artists, be the fool!]
What he said about his brother is spot on. We think that artists are the creative ones, but in truth, creativity is part of any way of life and any person. If you think you are not creative, think about the times you solved unusual problems. Reminds me of the book Promethean Flames by Philip Rubinov-Jacobson. He says that the creative flame is inside all of us, and I believe it.
I saw this maybe 9 months ago and thought “yeah this is a pretty good interview”. Today I found out a friend of mine passed away, this videos means a lot more to me now.
There are many good guides on how to get back at it. Just Google it or go straight to Julia Cameron's the Artists way. Soul nurturing -> work nurturing
I've met more than a few people that think and feel and talk the way that Ethan Hawke does in this video, and for the most part they are all considered nuts by those around me. I always take it with a grain of salt because, I haven't lived long enough to say that this and this work. Ethan Hawke says he's 50 with 4 kids, and he's in a profession where he gets to experience countless different povs. Maybe the people talking and thinking and feeling this way aren't nuts, they've just seen or experienced things that most haven't and are enlightened.
There is something which touches you differently when someone teaches you something humbly rather than making it feel like they are doing you a favour under the pretence of giving a lecture. Really a great talk tho 🥰🥰
This is gold, the kind of stuff that is worth coming back to, from time to time, to rekindle the fire within, to remember that we’re not here to just pay bills and die, but to experience awe and wonder too. If l remember correctly, l discovered Ethan Hawke through the brilliant movie ‘Dead Poets Society’. When he runs into the snow, torn apart by grief, after his friend takes his own life… that’s one of the most powerful moments in the movie. I’m grateful for having experienced his talent as an actor, and that he made this beautiful talk.
because of the honesty, authenticity, and the emotion. I'm not saying that the other ted talks are lack of these three factors, but he can brought up all of these in such a deep and thoughtful way
It amazes me how the essence of Ethan is always present in the characters he plays, like Jesse from Before Sunrise or Troy from Reality Bites. Listening to this TED talk feels like listening to dialogue from his movies and that's amazing, that's what brought so much life and authenticity to the characters!
This is one of the best ted talk. He is so chill, the way he is speaking is more like I'm actually sitting in that room with him coffee/glass of wine and just talking and debating life, art, etc. I love meeting people like this, in depth conversation can be so wild. Love it. Thank you 😊
I think Ethan is expressing something that Dio understood very clearly, and so many others have tried to articulate: our individuality is the best tool we have for bringing us together, and all we have to do is have the courage to be vulnerable in order to make that a reality. Love it.
Absolute shivers. Yes to all of this. I think it's mind-blowing how we all have the ability to come to this same conclusion independently, which proves the point that we're all connected. As a musician, I really feel what he said about music creating a dialogue, putting up mirrors for our experiences and allowing us to create bridges between our human lives. This is why I make music. This is my path and my art, the ultimate goal of living for me.
If you are listening to this in the COVID-19 period and thinking you are not creative enough, know it is natural. Under the influence of constant stress it’s also impossible to be creative. Apply relaxation techniques first and then you’ll see how much you have to offer to the world! Stay well!
I really enjoyed this. Especially that last part about "playing the fool." Trying new things, getting further away from your comfort zone and feeling dumb is the best way to live. Ive experienced it often and im thankful for it all. This is real stuff here.
It's profound to hear a great young actor become incredibly wise, thoughtful and totally human. I've admired Ethan Hawke since Dead Poets Society in 1989. But he's far more than I suspected.
I know I’ll be coming back to this time and time again. In a world that overwhelms me with information and novelty at unrelenting speeds, such straightforward, time-tested wisdom becomes undeniably soothing. It is also empowering. Brilliant video!
@@ethanhawke8369 I honestly have no idea if you’re the real Ethan Hawke, but I’m bemused by the idea that there’s someone out there so earnestly and wholesomely pretending to be him. Favourite movie: First Reformed. Which of your characters most closely resembles in personality and style your inner monologue?
You are welcome. Thank you very much for your lovely words, I really do appreciate it. Tell me what's your favorite movie of all my movies you have seen so far?
@@ethanhawke8369, I became a high school English teacher after seeing Dead Poets. I tear up every time your character stands up on that desk. It marked the beginning of many great things for you, but it also changed my life and helped me find purpose.
@@hannienguyen5444 I'm glad I have been able to impress you with the before trilogy, we hope to bring in more episodes in the nearest future. How long have you been a fan of my movies?
"Art is not luxury, its sustenance."
"Dead Poet's Society"
*sustenance
Woahhh.... I literally commented this same thing. Such beautiful words
Yess!
Lordy , there are tapes. 👊🙏🙏♥️ WONDERFUL talk.
Ethan Hawke always manages to talk about big life-affirming concepts without ever sounding pretentious or overbearing. He's down to earth, funny and thoughtful. This is the perfect ten minute video to get you back on the creative wagon.
I actually still see the guy in the Before Sunrise series
well put. This vid has piqued my interest anyway, he does speak very well. I couldn't agree with him more, especially on the making yourself look silly part. Some people never get that about me...and they are normally not very creative people
As an aspiring artist this is the exactly the type of guy I want to become
I'm at my best when I tell a really dumb joke, usually made up in the spot. 🤡
This video is medicine. Maybe the most important message for society that I’ve ever seen.
Now this is the kind of content that old TED was all about. Extraordinary ideas.
Exactly
Hey buddy Where are you From?
I'm more or less out of the loop; is TED now not the same as this "old TED"? I don't watch that many TED talks so I wouldn't know, only some here and some there. Extraordinary ideas take many forms though.
@@nambypamby5531 They distribute a liberal worldview, because it is called IDEAS WORTH SPREADING. RACISM and PATRIOTISM is not worth spreading.
I don't understand your video releases because I speak only Russian !!! TED Authors Should Know About You All Over The World, In Every Language Of The World! I ask you TED speakers to support your viewers and petition to keep the TED RUclips channel in Russian !!! Thanks! We watch you only in a language that is understandable for us in our countries! #savetedrussia
“To express yourself, first you have to know yourself.” A powerful truth.
Going by social media, I don't think many people comprehend this powerful truth.
I would say ‘ when you are expressing yourself, you are actually trying to know god, who is you’ but anyway. Great video.
You will never know yourself
@@SuperScratchproof I failed at so many different artistic mediums, music, drawing, videos. I finally stopped trying so hard to express myself, and now that I'm just having fun making videos, I understand who I am better, and make art that's a more honest expression of who I am.
Easy for a rich navel-gazer like Hawke.
He’s like that super cool hippieish English professor everyone wishes they had
like he wants us to call him captain or something!
@@imagochristus i just watched that movie tonight! really amazing
@@imagochristus i’ll cry
I had one. He was awesome! Everyone knew who he was and always tried to sign up! I got in luckily!
Or had and wishes they were still around.
Is it just me, or has Ethan Hawke become one of the most fascinating people in the world of art over the past couple of decades. He is thoughtful, articulate, different and inspirational. Love this!
I totally agree with you. I have been a fan for a very long time. What I like about him, is that it seems he has played by his rules, done what he has wanted to do.
100% agree! An amazing actor as well.
100%
Man, listen to his interview on the podcast Off Camera, one of the most brilliant things I've listened to.
Could not have said it better!
that part "don't read the book that you should read, read what you wanna read"...this was for me
What do you want to read?
I'm not there yet in the video 😉, but I agree 100%!
(Easier said than done, though)
I'm a taxi driver. Most of my conversations with passengers are just small talk. When I pick up people from the airport, I'll often get asked about local restaurants or things to do in town. But I also get conversations started by asking about what they watched on any of the streaming services. From there, we start a conversation about the things we enjoy watching, and while this seems like a boring conversation, it's not. People talk about the movie that made them cry, or the show they had to binge watch because they couldn't stop watching, it hooked them in so thoroughly. You can see how animated they are, and the conversation continues while they pay, rushing their words to try and fit their point in before they have to get out.
Just like poetry or any other art form, movies and TV shows can capture your attention, imagination, and feelings. And yet, talking about them can be considered just a half step up from talking about the weather. I have regular customers who ask for me to be the driver sent out to pick them up, just so we can have a conversation about the latest episode of their favourite show while on the way to their destination.
The trip to their destination is what they needed to get about their day. The conversation was what they needed to enjoy their day. When I get a customer I can provide both to, it makes my day.
Evan I loved your comment because it reminded me of Paterson, the film by Jim Jarmusch. A life well lived and yes! You provide something amazing to the people's lives you cross
❤
I think you are a writer too!
"The world is an extremely unreliable critic!" GOLD, absolute gold!
Yes!! This comment stood out to me, too
I was so happy he included his brother, a leader, a military man, as someone who was creative. As much as I love the arts, I have struggled to find value as a not creative or artistic person. I don't dance, act or sing. I don't draw or paint. My "creativity" has always been in organization, administration, leadership, creating a bridge of understanding between higher ups those who are less knowledgeable. I love to write...business letters. That is my poetry. I think knowing and accepting who you are is the most creative gift anyone has to offer the world.
I was a programmer and I thought that was a very creative field. A well written program was like poetry to me.
I practiced law for 20 years as well. I thought there was slit of creativity in that as well.
Any field can be creative.
@@Dave_MB well said 👍
👍🏻
Creativity isn't just the arts. It can be science, mathematics, and a lot of other things which don't fall into a stereotypical category.
I'm very much an artistic type. I write music, I draw, but I struggle with numbers. My sister is the exact opposite, as she is a maths wiz but doesn't have the aptitude to do anything traditionally artistic.
Unfortunately the arts are still seen as some sort of lazy "get out of real work" scheme, which is completely untrue. It take a piece of your soul with every new project.
Wow same
"there's no path till you walk it, and you have to be willing to be the fool." love that
If being a fool is all it takes, I'm on the right track lol. I'm not trying to make things great or perfect but just unique and honest which often ends up being weird or foolish. I even referenced my username in a diss track I made about myself "BuffNipz, a name fit for a fool". Guess I'm on the right track!!!
It’s a freaking tough but extremely rewarding experience and journey when you succeed
“There is no path… until you walk it” so powerful. ❤️
Unfortunatley, this is part of an Spanish poem: "Caminante, se hace camino al andar..."
‘Caminante no hay camino , se hace camino al andar’ es de Antonio Machado , Gran poeta de la generación del 27’ en España :)
@@MercedesFerrerArtista are you from Spain?
@@truemonetarytheory yes I am!!!
@@truemonetarytheory pero por qué dices ‘unfortunately’ ?? It’s actually very fortunate to have these words into an Ethan Hawke speech!!!
"The world is an unreliable critic".
Do what you want to do, not what they want you to do. 😌
He isnt unreliable?
@@oneseeker2 well he is not being a critic. So he can be relied upon.
Exactly
@@oneseeker2
I think the point is not to rely on him or somesone else telling you what to do but yourself, follow your love, the path that makes you want to strive for success, yourself, your calling. You guide yourself but you have to know yourself first, you can't do that without going through the disapproval from others, mistakes or as he said, making a fool of yourself, in the eyes of other people. As they can be very unreliable critics as well.
Allowing yourself to be the person you are or the person you want to be. Allowing yourself permission to be creative, finding the passion and all that stuff. That can make you passionate about living or finding what you're passionate about. Your calling in life.
@@oneseeker2 i bet you're fun at parties.
• Stop doing what everyone else is doing. Stop being boring.
• Create more. Consume less. Express yourself through a creation outlet, e.g., drawing, photography, cooking, etc.
• Creativity is breathing. You need to breathe in in order to breathe out.
Absolutely!
Why do I have feeling that he's from before triology?
I love to do paintings with my poo!
@@huethuong2810 he is
Do you mean breathe in ?
"Human creativity is nature manifesting in us." That hit deep.
I`ll make a T-shirt of it
This is pretty much Augusto Boal's interpretation of Aristotle. Very beautiful.
Man, I believe in every word Ethan said. I spent the first part of my life being ashamed and embarrassed to express myself. Not anymore. I am transformed into my own personal fool and I love it! I’m making music, creating art, making BBQ for others, writing screenplays and all of it gives fulfillment.
It really was.
I am so happy for you
Permission to be creative is also about permission to fail - creativity is about doing hundreds of things not quite right and then finally putting out something that just 'clicks' with people. Quality comes via quantity.
Thanks Sam... i needed to hear that
@@genevieveprefontaine7810 Glad it resonated!
Man this is beautiful. Will put this in my wall and make sure I quote you.
@@leobecker_ thanks man, glad it resonated!
Coming from someone who's been quite afraid of failure. This qoute feels right in! Thank you for writing it :)
1:29 "most of us really want to offer the world something of quality. something that the world would consider good, or important. and that's really the enemy. because it's not up to us whether what we do is any good."
3:50 "what do you love? and if you get close to what you love, who you are is revealed to you and it expands"
6:56 "kids use any opportunity they have. they try to use it to impress upon you their individuality"
7:05 "there is a thing that worries me sometimes whenever you talk about creativity because it can have that kind of feel that it is just nice, you know, or it's warm, it's something pleasant. IT'S NOT. it's VITAL. it's the way we heal each other. in singing our song, in telling our story, in inviting you to say- hey, listen to me and I will listen to you. we are starting a dialog and when we do that, that healing happens."
7:43 " If you want to help your community, if you want to help your family, if you want to help your friends, you have to EXPRESS yourself. and to express yourself you have to know yourself. it's actually super easy, you just have to follow your love."
8:06 "don't read the book that you should read. read the book that you want to read. don't listen to music that you used to like. take your time to listen to some new music."
All I have to write is WOW!!!! this is the best talk I have listened to in months. pure pearls of wisdom. well said, well-edited. thank you!
Thank you for the summary
Thank you for highlighting and putting time stamps on these!!
Thank you so much
This needs more likes :"((
Golden nuggets of wisdom! Thanks for listing these!
This was deeper and more engaging than I thought it would be. Pleasantly surprised.
I feel the exact same way
Why? Ethan Hawke has always been really intelligent and creative
Likewise
yes! and that's beautiful
Not expecting but loved it!
“That’s the point, play the fool.” Wow! So much meaning!!
"The world is an unreliable critic" - How perfectly relevant to the digital age that we live in. The endless critique of every aspect of ourselves is damaging our ability to express our individuality and to engage in dialogue from a differing view. Thank you, Mr. Hawke, for putting your words out into the world.
Met him years ago at a photoshoot. Super humble and that's the same energy coming through this TED talk. Enjoyed it
I met him twice and he was pretty rude both times 😫
Humble? Ha!
That's awesome! 🙌🏾
You're lucky..
@@eunice1670 how?
“If you get close to what you love, who you are is revealed to you, and it expands." Brilliant. But I guess most people are stuck at first base - surviving. Beyond that everything is a luxury nowadays.
Well said. I feel the same way.
Yes, this line grabbed me immediately. Well said.
@@elpanderohabanero2915 working hard all day and feeling tired and making just enough to feed themselves... like, dude. That's most of us.
nah, i dont i think that is what he meant. basically he said: get to know your self better. once you try, once you know and accept your self, life itself will give you it "sweet" things. not by doing something that people considering "big" or "grand", just as simple as know your self, be kind, be true.
I once saw an interview with Tarantino, he was trying to do everything in his film, until someone told him, “you’re job is to direct! Let everyone else worry about their job”
I then met someone who was writing a book, I told him I want to write a book too, but get caught up in the whole process, he says, “your job is to write, let the editor worry about editing, let the publisher worry about publishing” and it opened my mind.
I believe a bunch of ppl will see this video and say “wtf is he talking about!??” But that’s the point, Ethan is being a “fool” in this video.
My dad once told me, “the road you’re heading down, I’m already walking back”
I love the quote about your father and the road he is walking back. I am older now and understand what he means. It encapsulates so much. Thank you.
"You may feel foolish, you may even look foolish ... Do the thing anyway."
This quote and this type of thinking has helped me so much. As someone who has often been scared of what others think, sometimes you just gotta do what you feel is right no matter what
I love this..I can relate
@@saffiyahissoapy Me too, I stopped making videos because of that anxiety. Finally I started this new channel where I'm anonymous so if my friends see my stuff I can claim it's not me. Lol maybe not the best option but I love the freedom it's given me to make weird videos
Artist at 63, I question the fool I may become, I'm a painter so I can add more color.
A light inside me that’s been off for a long while started to flicker just now watching this. Thank you, Ethan. Very lovely.
Same..
Thats beautiful. Love.
🌱🌸🍃
Was it a poetry light flicker because you are good with words!
I felt that! Thanks.
"Play the fool" - now that is the best and most liberating advice I've ever heard! This really struck a cord with me!
My mom and I were seated in a restaurant having lunch one day, there was a lull in the conversation. She looked me straight in the eye and told me she admired the way I was unafraid to be foolish. Further she revealed she was afraid of appearing foolish. At the time I didn’t know quite how to interpret this comment. I didn’t realize that being creative was ok. Now, years later I thank her for the huge compliment she paid me.
I had never thought about in the manner Ethan noted, "Just Play the Fool." Creativity emerges. Interesting, very interesting.
Easily the most powerful ted talk i've ever seen. I dont remember the last time i felt a piece inside of me click back into place like this. Thank you Ethan
Absolutely👍
I clicked this on a whim while eating lunch at home on a Friday, now I'm entering into my weekend with a renewed sense of humanity.
“The fool is the precursor to the savior.” - Carl Jung
A lot of what Ethan is talking about here is self-realisation. After our basic needs are met we must satisfy the soul's needs. Making and consuming art is part of that.
*Self-actualisation
Some Jungians say a Trump is the fool of a sacred clown archetype.., does that mean perhaps same things
You could of said anything and I would of agreed with that trout mask replica avatar
What a coincidence!
I just watched the 'Before' trilogy today.
In my opinion, the most beautiful trilogy of all time!
Beautiful films x
Youre lucky to stumble upon it, and privileged to enjoy and connect with it. Coz some people are simply unable to
it's not a coincidence, that's the power of big data
@@12.kharismacitra65 you seems like a reader of YNH's..
I adore this trilogy!!! Before sunset is my favorite!
I love this so much.
I love you man!
Same here brother, same here.
Who are you?
Yep so good!!
Yes, it's awesome!
I cried at the end there.
Powerful.
As soon as he asked “Do you think human creativity matters?” I just started bawling because it matters so much to me, and yet I’ve struggled to create at various moments in my life because of other people’s opinions. It hurts when we don’t create. We lose a piece of ourselves, our soul, our humanity. That’s why it hurts so much. Thank you, Ethan - and TED. I needed this. So much 🙏😌🧡✌️
I get it. The urge to create wakes me up at night.
You're always creating, just looking at it in the wrong way. Go outside and walk in the grass, you're making a footprint, go talk to someone and do a reaction with your face, you just evoked (created) a feeling in someone else. Just focus on what works in the moment and find a way to have fun.
💙
I bawled like 7 times during the video lol
Dear My Indigo Blues, do you still want to create? I have a special online group for creatives to give yourself permission, a safe space and community to create. Message me or reply here if you are interested. :)
does anyone else just go to reading the comments when they just feel like they want more of whatever they caught a glimpse of in the video?
I do read comments because I want to know how important or affective the arts are for and on others.
Leslie McTavish thats a great reason too!
yeah ... especially if it resonates ... I wanna know if there are others shaking the same way...
Yeees, I wondered why I started reading the comments on videos that resonated with me because I never had before. Thank you so much for simply asking that question!
I do that a lot. After watching sthg that truly moved me, I always go in the comments section to see which part resonated with others, why that part mattered for them and not the other one. Rarely, reading the comments kills the magic
He feels so much like his character in the “Before” series in this video and I cant get enough
Yes. I can see Jesse Wallace.
The comment I was looking for 😀
yasss! me too
So my dad passed when I was 18. I’m almost 40 now and obviously it’s been quite a bit of time since I’ve heard anything from my dad. Just watching this now and out of nowhere I feel like I’m getting some real fatherly advice from my old man all these years later. Very weird and very meaningful. Thank you Ethan Hawke and everyone who helped put this together
Mine passed at 16. Same, almost 40… ditto.
try astral projection and you can meet him again ( search it on youtube "astral projection"
Thank you for sharing. I started to cry halfway through for the same reason, even though my dad is still alive. I wish I had someone in my life who were able to give me this kind of advice. Thank you, Ethan.
Ethan Hawke seems like a very intelligent and compassionate person. I would love to meet him one day.
“What do you love? When you get close to what you love, who you are is revealed to you and it expands.”
Yes that's the truth, I'm glad you loved the message. Tell me from all of my movies you have seen so far, which is the best?
@@ethanhawke8369 oh dear one I honestly don’t watch movies frequently enough to recall.
@@MelanieSakowski OK that's fine, I'm not always here online, but I want us to keep in contact, please do send me your e--mail, so we can keep in contact.
This man is a national treasure. And he doesn't get the recognition he should for how thoughtfully talented he is.
Have you seen The Good Lord Bird?
@@Largentina. Sadly I have not
8:01
"There's no path until you walk it."
That quote smacked me in my face.
This is one of the most sorted talks I've heard in a while. Especially the part where he says art is no more a luxury but sustenance, I felt that. It spoke to me.
Thank you very much for your lovely words, I really do appreciate it. Tell me what's your favorite movie of all my movies you have seen so far?
@@ethanhawke8369 needless to say, all your works are amazing. But my favorites would be- Dead poet's society, Before sunrise, before sunset and before midnight. I can watch these works of art a million times, feel them over and over again, and it still won't be enough! Thank you for creating these masterpieces ❤ Stay healthy 🌼
@@manvikansal so lovely, I'm glad I have been able to impress you with my movies listed above. It's always a wonderful feeling for me when I get positive reviews from my fans and admirers of my works. Where are you from?
I like how he doesn't limit creativity to art.. more a calling..
..
We just do not have to consider art as this highly pretentious thing. I mean, sometimes it is that and sometimes it is just very simple, a word, a joke, a thought. Not every art is worth the same. And thats okay. Creativity is always worth something.
Everything is art and art is everything.
@@rolanddeschain6089 beautiful
I just love how he talks straight to us. Creativity is vital. I will remember that.
@@ethanhawke8369 Well, Mr. Hawke would not ask those kind of questions, he doesn't need attention from others.
The most beautiful Ted talk i have ever listened.
he never ended up reaching the same heights of fame, but in my brain, Ethan Hawke occupies the same space as Dicaprio or Depp.
jdogsful same here. Love him
Jdogsful True. I think that's mostly by his choice. He's been very circumspect with his roles.
But I guess that, in exchange, the people that know him also value him more (:
I completely agree with you on this....he's incredibly brilliant. One of my absolute favourite movies with him as the lead is Gattaca. If you haven't watched it you really should I highly recommend.
@@elettrabelaqua4575 cmon, how you think i can make a comment like that without already having seen gattaca?
It's as if Ethan Hawke is still playing his character, Todd Anderson, from Dead Poet's Society. It's as if Todd decided to live the life he imagined his best friend, Neil Perry (played by Robert Sean Leonard), would want: the life of an actor. O Captain, my Captain! Thank you.
Love this!
Maybe, if there was ever a person that played the fool it was Robin Williams.
Looks like Ethan got personnally caught up in this character. Why ? Cause he seems involved in poetry. That's not a matter of coincidence whether he chose this exemple.
@@dontyougetcaughtsomedays6969 Oh yea my friend. When poetry hits you, it'll run in your vein.
I was just thinking about this. It seems he has personified the character here!
*"Kids don't have any habits and they don't even care if they're any good or not"* He's right. As an artist myself I'm sure alot of creatives out there could confirm the fact that we are sort of constantly in competition with each others? It puts everyone underpressure in order to become 'someone' or 'the next big thing' when really we should simply thrive to create for creation's sake.
Thankyou for 'saying this out loud'. It's an unfair conditioning in the belief of scarcity and that artists have to compete for limited limelight and income... the need for creativity in the context of this video isn't even acknowledged in the arts. But Ethan's message is what we need to hear.
Megumi Hayashida
Beautiful
Thank you.
"Creativity is vital… it's the way we heal each other." Well said, Ethan! This is so beautiful and true:) I hope everyone steps into their creative freedom. I know I am.
It is just like Jesse from the movie "Before Sunrise" while telling something very personal to Celine
Agreed 😌
Thought the same thing
Same thoughts. Like-minded people 🤗
Oh yes this is so “Jessie”
I felt like I was Celine almost the whole time. It was kind of overwhelming.
"play the fool" love it.
The misconception of creative activities just being "nice" hit me. Really, they are essential and sustaining.
"And if you get close to what you love, who you are is revealed to you and it expands." (3:48)
So poignant but so insightful.
Thank you. I'm almost 40 years old. The job I've been hiding out in for nearly 20 years is likely gone. My kids are almost grown. My wife and family have always told me to pursue my writing. I have a list of more than 60 ideas (big and small) that I still haven't written. Fear and doubt have held me back most of my life. I don't believe in myself. But the clock is ticking and I've been standing near the edge for far longer than I wish I had. Daring myself to take that leap. For better or worse, to see what happens. Things like this help me to inch a bit closer to that edge. Thank you for the reassuring push.
Robert Frost: The road less travelled by....
Ethan Hawke: There is no path until you walk it.
Wow.
Right?!
Non-metaphorically, only if everyone's footsteps all disappeared the moment they've passed on.
Oh…
@@thomaskantor but is that path the same today as it was yesterday? Or even 10 minutes ago? Are you having the same experience as the person who is walking the path with you at that same moment? None of this is metaphorical. Every experience is unique.
"Searcher, there is no road. We make the road by walking." Antonio Machado
Caminante, no hay camino :-)
Se hace camino al andar
😅🤫
Yes, it's really the same as my favorite Budha qoute: There is no way to happiness. Happiness is the way.
Wow. Powerful.
This is so inspiring and comppeling. If you have ever felt something like what he's describing you'll get right away what he meant to say. Art, expression and to be alive, living the moment is so powerful, inebriating. Thanks, Ethan! Let's all play the fool.
"Art is wrinkled & sad but beautiful;
Just like the moon in sky, that's so dull.
Hope people live in art, even if they die;
And I hope, art lives even after the last sunshine."
What do you think about this?
I'm 33. My first favorite movie, that I cant count how many times I've watched, is Gattaca. I was 11. Hearing the first actor that ever had an impact on my life, say things that I've also come to realize over the years, feels pretty damn good. Not gonna lie. I've never heard anyone else say that it's not up to you what you are. That others decide what you are and you have zero control of it. Just try and love what you do, and do what you love as kindly as you can. After that, hope for the best. But in the end it doesn't matter, because you lived up to your core character and never wavered. You played the fool. Now that, my friends, is called living. One last thing. Try to remember, the only happiness you will find at the top of the mountain, is the happiness you brought up there with you.
All of this. I found my happiness by becoming the me I was meant to be before the world got to me and building that girl up brick by brick.
Nice. Yeah.
Be yourself, everyone else is already taken.
Find interesting things and connect with other people. Enjoy creativity and be creativ. Play the fool.
This is a unimaginable cruel world at times, but exactly these things make it livable.
Very rarely do I ever watch a video that touches me as deep as that one does. Too often we, creative people, get tangled in the mindset of not wanting to look foolish. We settle for much less than what we deserve. We give up on our dreams, goals, and end up losing ourselves in the process. Do NOT be afraid to look foolish, or feel foolish. Be BOLD and mighty forces will come to your aid.
His mom bought my handmade pottery from me. The value people place on creativity is passed down in families. My parents collected original art and encouraged me. Without creativity I’m really nothing.
I think thats one of the most wholesome things Ive heard in a while!
This is the coolest guy. In every interview, he's intelligent and thoughtful and wise and well spoken.
I love that he has this way of being extremely deep while also seeming light hearted. It's really interesting.
@@Largentina. Definitely, good catch!
He has a way of being extremely deep while expressing it in a very light-hearted manner.
I was in tears before reaching the middle of the video. Thank you Ethan for your life experience.
And thank you for the music, beautiful finale.
[...and remember artists, be the fool!]
The same with me, I was in tears, too!
What he said about his brother is spot on. We think that artists are the creative ones, but in truth, creativity is part of any way of life and any person. If you think you are not creative, think about the times you solved unusual problems. Reminds me of the book Promethean Flames by Philip Rubinov-Jacobson. He says that the creative flame is inside all of us, and I believe it.
I saw this maybe 9 months ago and thought “yeah this is a pretty good interview”. Today I found out a friend of mine passed away, this videos means a lot more to me now.
I’ve had writers block for the past year and considered I shouldn’t write anymore. This really helped me understand creativity more.
Same. For many years in my case.
There are many good guides on how to get back at it. Just Google it or go straight to Julia Cameron's the Artists way. Soul nurturing -> work nurturing
I've met more than a few people that think and feel and talk the way that Ethan Hawke does in this video, and for the most part they are all considered nuts by those around me. I always take it with a grain of salt because, I haven't lived long enough to say that this and this work. Ethan Hawke says he's 50 with 4 kids, and he's in a profession where he gets to experience countless different povs. Maybe the people talking and thinking and feeling this way aren't nuts, they've just seen or experienced things that most haven't and are enlightened.
TED x Ethan Hawke was the team-up i never knew i needed. I LOVE THIS MAN.
There is something which touches you differently when someone teaches you something humbly rather than making it feel like they are doing you a favour under the pretence of giving a lecture. Really a great talk tho 🥰🥰
Agree - this video felt so comforting!
"Art is a substance...we need it", beautiful interpretation of life
Who would've known that the greatest Ted Talk i would ever hear would come from Ethan Hawke, no diss at all. This is low key an amazing message.
I could listen to Ethan all day. He is so uplifting.
@Johnnydepp26 probably Tunisia
This is gold, the kind of stuff that is worth coming back to, from time to time, to rekindle the fire within, to remember that we’re not here to just pay bills and die, but to experience awe and wonder too. If l remember correctly, l discovered Ethan Hawke through the brilliant movie ‘Dead Poets Society’. When he runs into the snow, torn apart by grief, after his friend takes his own life… that’s one of the most powerful moments in the movie. I’m grateful for having experienced his talent as an actor, and that he made this beautiful talk.
Out of all the Ted talks I've watched so far, this was different.
but in a good way!
I feel like alot of ted talks start sounding and feeling cliche on the stage. This one felt much more authentic, original, and personal.
because of the honesty, authenticity, and the emotion. I'm not saying that the other ted talks are lack of these three factors, but he can brought up all of these in such a deep and thoughtful way
This guy for me is a an unsung hero, so glad that Ted got him to come on such a inspirational man. Not just that an amazing actor👍
It amazes me how the essence of Ethan is always present in the characters he plays, like Jesse from Before Sunrise or Troy from Reality Bites. Listening to this TED talk feels like listening to dialogue from his movies and that's amazing, that's what brought so much life and authenticity to the characters!
It's crazy to me exactly how much wisdom is packed into this video. Thank you, Ethan.
"There is no path until you walk it" That is powerful, simple statement. Mr Hawke
My passion is making little tuxedos for hamsters. Never once considered this foolish.
Where can we find these tuxedo's? I need to know!
I would really like to see those... :3
Please never stop doing what you love.
What is your instagram? I have to see this!
It really depends what is in your wheelhouse
This is one of the best ted talk. He is so chill, the way he is speaking is more like I'm actually sitting in that room with him coffee/glass of wine and just talking and debating life, art, etc. I love meeting people like this, in depth conversation can be so wild. Love it. Thank you 😊
This was the shortest 9 minutes of my life... and a very beautiful 9 minutes as well. Exactly what I needed to hear
7:20 “creativity is the way we heal each other”
Thank you very mach for your lovely words, I really do appreciate it. Tell me what's your favorite movie of all my movies you have seen so far
Can't imagine a better time to stumble across this video than on a Monday afternoon.
Sounds good, I'm glad you enjoyed the message. Tell me what's your favorite movie of all my movies you have seen so far?
His ability to skip over the heart tugging pain of his grandmothers death to give a story for our understanding of how he feels is who he is.
I think Ethan is expressing something that Dio understood very clearly, and so many others have tried to articulate: our individuality is the best tool we have for bringing us together, and all we have to do is have the courage to be vulnerable in order to make that a reality. Love it.
These words gave me a gift I’ll never be able to repay.
Absolute shivers. Yes to all of this. I think it's mind-blowing how we all have the ability to come to this same conclusion independently, which proves the point that we're all connected. As a musician, I really feel what he said about music creating a dialogue, putting up mirrors for our experiences and allowing us to create bridges between our human lives. This is why I make music. This is my path and my art, the ultimate goal of living for me.
Nine months ago but this comment is beautiful and resonated with me a whole lot--exact same reason why I'm a writer. Be well!
If you are listening to this in the COVID-19 period and thinking you are not creative enough, know it is natural. Under the influence of constant stress it’s also impossible to be creative. Apply relaxation techniques first and then you’ll see how much you have to offer to the world! Stay well!
I really enjoyed this. Especially that last part about "playing the fool." Trying new things, getting further away from your comfort zone and feeling dumb is the best way to live. Ive experienced it often and im thankful for it all. This is real stuff here.
It's profound to hear a great young actor become incredibly wise, thoughtful and totally human. I've admired Ethan Hawke since Dead Poets Society in 1989. But he's far more than I suspected.
When you feel is when ART isn't a luxury, its sustenance! That. Hit. Hard.
His vulnerability came through the screen always from when I first saw him in Dead Poet’s Society. It’s okay to be raw and to be yourself.
This is one of the most beautiful most important messages I've ever heard ❤️
I know I’ll be coming back to this time and time again. In a world that overwhelms me with information and novelty at unrelenting speeds, such straightforward, time-tested wisdom becomes undeniably soothing. It is also empowering. Brilliant video!
Thank you very much for your lovely words, I really do appreciate it. Tell me what's your favorite movie of all my movies you have seen so far?
@@ethanhawke8369 I honestly have no idea if you’re the real Ethan Hawke, but I’m bemused by the idea that there’s someone out there so earnestly and wholesomely pretending to be him. Favourite movie: First Reformed. Which of your characters most closely resembles in personality and style your inner monologue?
His words feel like magic. I can feel the fire in his heart.
@@SB-he1cn lol
This was so cleansing, healing and wholesome... I haven't felt this emotional in a while. Thank you.
You are welcome. Thank you very much for your lovely words, I really do appreciate it. Tell me what's your favorite movie of all my movies you have seen so far?
@@ethanhawke8369, I became a high school English teacher after seeing Dead Poets. I tear up every time your character stands up on that desk. It marked the beginning of many great things for you, but it also changed my life and helped me find purpose.
One of the best talks on creativity that I’ve found. Totally in love with those two pics “before sunset” and ‘before sunrise”. ❤
Wow! I overlooked this so many times, thinking "What can an actor teach me about life?"
This guy is a fount of genuine wisdom.
"you start to see how CONNECTED we ALL are..." Great! It's the truth, it's interconnection, interbeing...
Yes it's all about the connection. Tell me what's your favorite movie of all my movies you have seen so far?
@@ethanhawke8369 I love the Before trilogy, especially Before Midnight, it's so real not just romantic. Will you have the next episode of Before?
@@hannienguyen5444 I'm glad I have been able to impress you with the before trilogy, we hope to bring in more episodes in the nearest future. How long have you been a fan of my movies?
I'm just in the start of my 40s and just now I've known about what creativity means... Thanks, TED for that encouraging video!
This talk went deep into my soul. I love the contrast between the unpretentious tone of the talk and its profoundness. What a precious talk ❤