Get Out of Your Comfort Zone

I read somewhere – I don’t remember where – that creative juices can be stimulated by getting out of your comfort zone.

It makes sense. If you can learn to appreciate something different, it might inspire.

So I checked out a DVD from the library entitled “Jonas Brothers Concert Experience” in an effort to get out of my creative comfort zone musically. This teen pop genre of music is far removed from my comfort zone. I made myself watch it.

I thought, there must be some redeeming quality to this trio of teen musicians. Otherwise, how could they stoke the loin fires of so many teenage girls in America?

But I was in error. This was not good for me. I may have been spiritually violated!

I did learn something though. Unlike many teen pop idols, these brothers apparently (co-)write a fair amount of their own (albeit bland) musical material, and to the best of my ability to discern, they appear to play their own instruments and sing at an above average level for their age group. I was able to confirm that from other sources.

I also now know what their music is like. Generic, candy-like, average, mainstream pop, the staple art form of the culturally adrift in America. Everything I’m not, but probably what every lost and lonely, pimply-faced teenager wants to be.

They represent conformity incarnate and they unify the aimless masses with a sweet, candy-like message that is easy to share with other cultural refugees and creates a comfort zone for the fans of these boys. It’s just not my comfort zone. But that was the point of this exercise.

The Jonas Brothers certainly are no dummies. They (or their handlers) know exactly what to do to send their worshippers into a zealous blind frenzy. And they do it well. Perhaps they learned that from the handlers of a certain famed Biblical prophet we all know.

Anyway, I learned something today. And although it required me to bathe my soul in tomato juice, I guess I am glad I did it.

While I don’t encourage anyone to watch this film, I do think getting out of your comfort zone every once in a while is useful.