Plains of Perception

When I look at a Jackson Pollock painting I don’t know how it is considered art. The above painting is considered his best work of art. My 6 year old self could paint something just as similar. I am also more puzzled that people pay millions of dollars for an original Pollock painting.
I must confess I’m not much of an art person. I have been deeply moved by a piece of art. Monet’s haystacks in Chicago in fact. When I think of art haystacks comes to mind with its brilliant and vibrant colors of blue, orange, red and purple. Not a canvas with a bunch of gaudy colored paint thrown at it.
Despite what I think I also know that people have been moved to tears by Jackson Pollocks art. I don’t understand it but yet I don’t have to. There isn’t an objective criteria by which art’s subjective meaning is interpreted as Robin Williams character in “Dead Poets Society” points out at the beginning of the film. Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
What does this have to do with coaching sports or weightlifting specifically? A lot actually. Let me explain. It is true that there are many coaches in weightlifting, powerlifting and strength training whose methodologies I adamantly disagree with. In disagreeing with them I am not implying they are bad coaches or people.
Let me mention one name. Mark Rippetoe. I disagree with him as evidenced in my previous blog “Technique moves the bar.” Mark gets a lot of hateful comments on social media and his views on strength training are called dogmatic. I like Mark. He is a musician, a connoisseur of fine whiskey and very funny. He’s built a very successful business that has been around for decades and continues to grow.
Despite what we disagree on, if I take a big step back and look at Marks’ influence on others it is quite profound. He hasn’t simply helped people get strong, he has helped save lives and that’s the core of the point I’m making. There have been soldiers with PTSD and people with traumatic brain injuries who were suicidal and doing Starting Strength or taking Marks advice saved their life.
If one can step back from a Pollock painting you question how it qualifies as art but acknowledge it deeply moves others then there are plains of perception. So...I don’t agree with Mark (and others) on certain things. Who cares? Marks influence has helped impact and save people personally and that’s what really matters. As I continue my coaching career I hope I will keep the bigger picture in mind and help others like Mark has.