Art Is Not a Luxury, it’s a Necessity
Art has always played a big role my whole life. For as long as I can remember, I have been painting, drawing, singing, writing poetry, and so much more. Finding a vessel for my “big emotions” was crucial, and making art was the healthiest way to process what I was feeling. However, internalized voices from my upbringing reminded me just how “useless” all of this was. The way to success and accomplishment was through the sciences and hard work. Processing your emotions meant that you had time to waste instead of grinding and working. My little paintings, my songs, the music I listened to: all hippie stuff for the wealthy, a luxury for those who didn’t have to earn a living (directly from my father’s mouth.)
Imagine you are living your daily life. You wake up and go to school/work. You take the bus, drive your car, hop on the bike. You have plans for your future, whether big or small. You rely on your logic and reason. Life is this thing you have control over. You are studying to become an engineer, or maybe you’re an engineer already. A doctor, a plumber, a professor. You are a necessary part of society; a piece of this community we can’t do without. Life makes sense and you like it that way. What’s the point of art if not to be looked at on a Saturday afternoon while strolling through a museum? Or to be listened to while on your daily commute to work? Or to be watched while you wait for your flight to depart? Art is not needed; it’s a luxury made to decorate time and space.
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