Control

Something hit me today. People get nasty when you stop allowing them to use you as the brunt of their jokes or entertainment. I would like to ask someone who knows, but my guess is that most relationships end when the controlled person finally says enough. Maybe that means that good relationships exist when there is a perfect balance between having control and being controlled in both people. I don't think that one dominant, one submissive is good enough for "balancing each other out". Eventually, the submissive dismisses the controller with the controller wondering what happened to the "good" relationship.

In a painting this shows itself when a variety of elements are never really blended together, but overall they balance themselves. You could have rounded shapes and square shapes with each being perfectly round and square. Balance would be in an equal number of both covering the same amount of area. However, the squares will dominate the painting if all other elemental factors are the same. Why? The square has sharp edges; a danger of sort; something requiring acknowledgement. Much like an intersection in the road. It requires attention.

I think our culture promotes people either being square or being round. This job requires a square. That job requires a circle. Someone who is a natural square, but rounds off his corners is not committed to perfection according to society. Someone who is a natural circle, but wants to be an oval so that she can relate with others is considered a "sell out".

© kenneth martin