This year has been an incredible drain for the residents of the United States. It seems nearly everyday people have been having a conversation regarding the election and other necessary, although mentally exhausting, topics. Although these issues are important, they can take a massive toll on our psyche. With the election about to come to an end it is a good time to reflect on ourselves and look to some enjoyment outside the media. With all these important issues however one might ask how best to do that? How can we simply set our brains aside when there is still so much to be engaged in? Good news is that depending on what you do for entertainment it doesn't have to be mindless. Let's talk the arts.
The arts is anything that is of imaginative quality, strong visual artistry, or intellectual content. It is also anything that comes from the human mind in a physical expression. While many think that the arts are dying or that they have no real purpose in modern day society, it is important to remember how the arts were established and what goal they was striving to achieve. They were built on principles of emotion and thought. The expression of our species is the central idea behind them. The concepts of thinking critically and perceiving the world around us in new ways helps us become more enlightened and improves our minds to adapt to new ways of thinking and working with our fellow man. Good examples of this were the plays that were acted out in ancient times by the Athens. One such play is that of Oedipus Rex by playwright Sophocles. It is a tragic story of a man that is destined to kill his father and marry his mother. His parents rejected their son due to his prophesy and gave him to another kingdom. Of course the story plays out with the prophecy coming true, but you may be asking what the significance of that story is. What purpose does it serve? If you find yourself asking questions that is the point. To think critically about something. To engage in discussion and participate in something to better understand our world and our philosophies as human beings. It makes us more inquisitive and intelligent human beings. Asking questions is the key to discovery.
Another example. Think of the paintings Van Gogh is famous for. The Starry Night or The Yellow House. These paintings are personal expressions of the human soul. They are masterworks of artistry, but also tell personal stories that allow us to empathize with another person. It is a beautiful thing to have a deep understanding of another through their eyes and experiences. This is what art allows us to do. It is pleasing and it is engaging. The very understanding of the human mind is engulfed in pleasing imagery while simultaneously having new comprehension of another human. It is wonderful!
If paintings and sculptures aren't your thing that is alright. The arts include any expression of the human soul. Take movies as an example. Think of you're favorite movie. Personally, my favorite movie is the Dark Knight. Although it is a Batman movie it rarely feels like an action comic book movie. It touches on deep themes of heroism, vigilantism, the difference between right and wrong, and the moral grey areas that preside in our world. Looking at it through this lens I have a new thought process for these concepts. I gain new respect for the visionary who created such a masterpiece. To have such a dense and cohesive film that is as bold to question who we are and what we do is a remarkable achievement. It is moments like these that encapsulate what we are and the actions that define us.
If we take the time to stop and smell the roses I promise you can experience something grand. Go to a museum, support local performances like choir, theatre, and reenactments. Go to the movies and go on an adventure. Take time to study your world and it will give you incredible, heartwarming, joyous, emotional, and fulfilling moments you can cherish for eternity. Share those experiences with others so that they may be inspired to follow in your footsteps. Delve into the arts and let their rich experiences wash away the muck of modern day drama even if for but a day.
