Not All Heroes Wear Capes…but Some Do
Recently, I watched a clip of Rick Rubin, named “One of the Top 100 Most Influential People in the World” by Time magazine, discussing his philosophy and approach to art as well as his creative process. If you’re not familiar with Rick Rubin (not Santa Claus) you have probably heard some of the artists he has produced hit records for throughout his career.
- Johnny Cash
- Metallica
- Adele
- Red Hot Chili Peppers
- Tom Petty
- AC/DC
- Run DMC
- Shakira
- Aerosmith
- Linkin Park
- Beastie Boys [1]
During this interview, Lewis Howes asked Rick if he ever wrestled with his inner critique, that voice that wonders if anyone would like what he is producing. He surprised me with his answer!
Rubin responds, “No, I don’t consider them at all, the audience comes last.”[2]
He goes on to explain that he is not making music for an audience but making it for himself. He stays true to himself and his audience gets to experience authentic expression. It just so happens a lot of other people enjoy his style, expression, and taste. Despite how we may judge his statement, his answer seems to prove what happens when someone completely transcends one of the forms of resistance (the fear of rejection) Steven Pressfield explores in his book, The War of Art.
I can’t say I’ve completely overcome the fear of rejection like Rick Rubin. Part two of Pressfield’s book examined the difference between an amateur and a professional and I quickly realized what category I fall into at times. He says, “Resistance knows that the amateur composer will never write his symphony because he is overly invested in its success and over terrified of its failure. The amateur takes it so seriously it paralyzes him.”[3] It may have been the Spirit, my subconscious, or both, but this section jumped at me from the page. I quickly underlined it then put stars and brackets around these sentences in my book, another reason I like physical pages. I must admit, that I am already feeling emotions of resistance as I anticipate delivering my NPO prototype at the end of this program. Like everyone, I am heavily invested in my subject matter and wonder if I take it so seriously that it creates various fears: failure, rejection, misunderstanding, Pressfield says success can even be a fear.
My NPO is birthed out of a lot of personal pain, confusion, loneliness, and emotional stress. The remedy to my crisis of faith was education and exposure to alternative approaches to biblical understanding and I hope to help others in my part of the world who I know are experiencing similar issues. I relate more to Lewis Howes who wrestles with the inner critique that wonders if anyone will relate or care about what I end up producing. This is where Pressfield gives great advice when he quotes from and interprets The Bhagavad-Gita, “…we have a right only to our labor, not the fruits of our labor. All the warrior can give is his life; all the athlete can do is leave everything on the field.”[4]
One of my artistic heroes is the movie producer, Zack Snyder. He made movies like 300, Man of Steel, Legend of the Guardians, and Watchmen. One of the things he is known for is taking current-day pop-culture mythologic
al figures (Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, The Flash, Cyborg, Aquaman, etc.) and telling darker, thought-provoking, and
more grounded stories that have become divisive with audiences. 
Superman was not in bright color’s saving cats out of trees, but was serious, unsure of himself and wrestled with his place in the world. Snyder was heavily inspired by Joseph Campbell and The Hero’s Journey. Despite the initial pushback and negative feedback his movies received from some audiences, Rotten Tomatoes, and Warner Brothers, Zack stuck to his guns and told the stories he wanted to tell in his style.
Snyder was eventually let go by corporate during his third DC movie, Justice League, and they brought someone else in to take over his film, Joss Whedon, producer of Marvel’s The Avengers. The final product was a mess that focused more on what Warner Brothers thought audiences wanted, which Rick Rubin identifies as “commerce, not art”. It failed in the box office and was a major disappointment for fans. After Whedon’s version of Justice League was released Snyder fans campaigned for Zack’s cut of the movie. They flew planes with banners over buildings, paid for advertisements at New York Times Square that showed up on benches, buses, and billboards, and organized social media posts that said #releasethesyndercut.
Zack stuck to his vision. Not everyone liked it, but a lot of people loved it, and it eventually got released on HBO Max during the pandemic, Zack Snyder’s Justice League.
Dr. Daniel Lieberman, talked about the subconscious and how certain things just speak to us on a deep level for important reasons. Zack Snyder, Rick Rubin, and Steven Pressfield’s ability to push through internal and external resistance to express their art and vision speaks to my soul and inspires me to push through various fears to do the same.
[1] ChatGPT, response to “Lists 100 Artist Rick Rubin has produced hits for,” December 7, 2023, OpenAI, https://chat.openai.com/chat.
[2] Howes, Lewis. “Rick Rubin Reveals His Secret to Unlock Your Creativity!” YouTube, November 27, 2023. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=brPHcAJn7ZU.
[3] Pressfield, Steven, and Robert McKee, The War of Art: Winning the Inner Creative Battle, (First Black Irish Entertainment, North Egremont; MA: Black Irish Entertainment LLC, SANAGE Publishing House, 2012), 70.
[4] Pressfield, The War of Art, 88.
About the Author
Adam Harris
I am currently the Associate Pastor at a church called Godwhy in Hendersonville, TN near Nashville. We love questions and love people even more. Our faith community embraces God and education wholeheartedly. I graduated from Oral Roberts University for undergrad and Vanderbilt for my masters. I teach historical critical Biblical studies at my church to help our community through their questions and ultimately deepen their faith. I love research, writing, learning, and teaching. I oversee our staff and leadership development. Before being at Godwhy I worked as a regional sales coach and director for Anytime Fitness. I've been married for over 13 years to my best friend and we have two amazing boys that keep us busy.12 responses to “Not All Heroes Wear Capes…but Some Do”
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Hi Adam,
You wrote, “My NPO is birthed out of a lot of personal pain, confusion, loneliness, and emotional stress. The remedy to my crisis of faith was education and exposure to alternative approaches to biblical understanding and I hope to help others in my part of the world who I know are experiencing similar issues.”
Thanks for sharing that.
Jenny asked me how I got into immigration. How was my NPO birthed. I guess challenged with the problem “US Immigration” my mind (I think my unconscious) surfed around until it hit upon a website, then telephone app, then Daron’s suggestion for a mobile telephone app. The need, to respond to Deut 10:18, (orphans, widows and the alien amongst us), forced my creative problem solving into high gear. Interlinkt.org was an intermediate goal, but now I am thinking about a wave/cascade of change. How do I impact that?
Still working…perhaps my creative juices are flowing.
Shalom….
Pain and struggle are great motivators.
Thanks for sharing your process, I appreciate the openness you have had along the journey. It’s been inspiring to see how your ideas have expanded and shifted along the way. I have no doubt that what you are doing will create a ripple effect of impact. Praying for more and more clarity for us all!
“Resistance knows that the amateur composer will never write his symphony because he is overly invested in its success and over terrified of its failure. The amateur takes it so seriously it paralyzes him.”
I appreciate how you drew out this of Pressfields book. I fall into this category sometimes when going through this doctorate. I start to imagine what being Dr. Jana Dluehosh will open? I think I fall into Amateur Doctorate instead of professional. oops! Thanks for drawing this out for me…I need to swallow my own medicine and just be present!!! Ahhh!!!
Thanks for the response Jana. That “being present” bit is the key! I also get too far ahead of myself at times or take what I am doing WAY to serious. This semester has been a much needed reality check that other people also see the needs I do and are helping to contribute. Which is great! I have to remember its my job is to offer my unique contribution. Have a great Christmas!
Adam,
1. Love Rick Rubin’s work. Thanks for using it in your post.
2. Love Zach Snyder’s work. And interestingly, can appreciate Joss Whedon, too (Firefly? Buffy? Come-on!) BUT, firing Snyder and bringing in Whedon to finish it was train wreck that produced a dumpster fire.
3. I agree with your assessment: it was the irresistible pull towards commerce that killed the film. We do the same thing, don’t we? Instead of being a Rubin, or Snyder (or I think in his best work, even a Whedon) we become the “suits” in our own lives and decide we need to clean up our acts and give people what they want instead of being true to the vision of who we are (the us God created us to be).
4. “Resistance knows that the amateur composer will never write his symphony because he is overly invested in its success and over terrified of its failure. The amateur takes it so seriously it paralyzes him.”
This is a GREAT quote… and it’s probably the liminal space many of us are in right now. I’m finding that I need to not be too invested in the success of my doctoral project. I know that sounds like heresy, but the reality is that I know very very few doctoral projects that are that important and ‘successful’ (but I do love our program because we are solving a particular problem in a particular place which IS helpful).
What I mean is that when we focus more on the product of our NPO and get anxious about whether or not that will make a huge impact, we actually lose the impact the process itself is making on us. If we ‘work the process’ we can’t fail because the process itself is the education that will help us keep solving other problems the rest of our lives.
Sorry such a long response. Your blog, as always, made me think and process deeply. Thank you for your always excellent writing.
Wow Tim! You’re a fan as well! I love that you know so much about the Marvel and DC universe. Synder’s stuff, especially his DC trilogy, (which should have been 5 movies, but anyways) speaks to me. There is something about people who follow their own artistic path that I admire as well. I could see how you resonate with Rubin, Synder, and even Whedon. lol Makes sense why you enjoyed Kleon’s Steal like an Artist so much.
“If we ‘work the process’ we can’t fail because the process itself is the education that will help us keep solving other problems the rest of our lives.” This is very true and reminds me of an entrepreneur who was talking about the struggles of following your dream and vision. Im summarizing but he essentially said, “Entrepreneurs work hard, never knowing if their goals will come to fruition, but the process of grinding, learning, and failing is forging you into the kind of person who will eventually find success.” Thought that was a great way of seeing it. Enjoying the process and grateful for who we are becoming along the journey. Thanks for the response from a fellow nerd!
I love your posts, my friend. They always leave me wanting more. I also love the pictures and visuals that you provide. I am also a fan of Rick Rubin’s work.
Happy Merry Everything, my friend.
Thanks for the kind words Jonita, these blogs are therapeutic and I am a very visual person. Trying to think how I can incorporate more visuals, diagrams, and pictures into my NPO. Seems to connect with people more. Have a Merry Everything as well!!
Christmas Blessings to you and yours. So grateful to be in this program together. Praying Jesus’ love on you into the new year.
“Do not be afraid. I bring you GOOD NEWS that will cause GREAT JOY for ALL PEOPLE” (Luke 2:10).
Thank you John, I am grateful we started this together as well my friend. Love our cohort! Hope you all have a wonderful Christmas. That’s a great verse. God bless!
Hi Adam,
Just wanted to pop by to wish you and your lovely family a Wonderful Christmas!
You shared, “My NPO is birthed out of a lot of personal pain, confusion, loneliness, and emotional stress. The remedy to my crisis of faith was education and exposure to alternative approaches to biblical understanding and I hope to help others in my part of the world who I know are experiencing similar issues.” My NPO is the same and the reason my graduate studies are in counseling and spiritual direction. I am hearing similar sentiments from others as well. I think there is something of our own personal Hero’s Journey embedded in our NPO’s
You are a hero! I hope you find a cape under your tree!
Merry Christmas.
Adam,
Rick Rubin’s approach to art and creativity, as discussed in the interview, is intriguing. Prioritizing authenticity over the audience’s approval aligns with Steven Pressfield’s idea of transcending the fear of rejection. I empathize with the struggle of balancing investment in one’s work and the fear of failure. Like you, I find inspiration in creators like Zack Snyder, who stay true to their vision despite opposition, reminding us to overcome internal and external resistance in pursuit of our art and purpose.
P.S. I loved Snyder’s longer cut!