I heard once that one of the defining facets separating humans from all other animals is our ability to create art. It's so true: I'm not just talking about music and painting here. I'm talking about the development of language and the invention of the wheel. These things evolved out of necessity, but they wouldn't have been possible without creative minds. Art is important. Crucial, even.
But you wouldn't know it, considering the way so much of society views the arts as a whole. They're usually the first thing to go when public schools have to cut their budgets. Parents push their children toward careers in medicine and finance, because those are safe and well-paying careers, not because their children will necessarily be happy in them.
Those of us majoring in the arts in college-whether it be English, music, visual art or theater-know what it's like to be looked down on by all those sensible folks in business and nursing. "So…what are you going to do with your degree?" they say. A valid question, rather snidely asked. As an English major and music minor, I get it all the time. It's like people expect me to fail at life because I won't be crunching numbers or banging a gavel for my profession.
We artists aren't taken seriously because we're stereotypically flighty, irresponsible dreamers, and because a vocalist in a club or a sculpture in a museum isn't going to initially make some huge difference in the world. Why should we indulge our passions for standing in the spotlight or for sewing tiny doll clothes or inventing wickedly delicious desserts? What good is that doing for anyone? Where will it get us?
It's true that most of us won't make much money or have as much stability as the bankers and lawyers in the world. But at least we musicians and writers and dancers will know for certain that we're doing something we're passionate about. Not that bankers and lawyers aren't passionate, but you know there's always a fair number who are in it just for the money.
In some forms, art seems frivolous, an unnecessary indulgence. Perhaps you've got better ways to spend your time and money than to attend a concert or a gallery opening. Maybe you're a little embarrassed by the watercolors you've created over the years, or the poetry collecting in notebooks under your bed.
There are plenty of narrow-minded jerks who will make fun of art and the people who create, display and perform it. So what? Art stirs emotions and creates connections among people. There's nothing trivial about that.
I have so much respect for people who do what they love to do, regardless of what the status quo says. Perhaps I don't quite have the courage (yet) to run away to New York City and live in a flat with a bunch of starving artists. But to those who do-I salute you.
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