Taking a different direction from the last time I wrote here and I’ll begin the same way- some of you might not have the capacity to engage on this topic what with (waves hands around in the air) everything going on, and we will see you around some other time.
And “yes” I’m intentionally making this title a contradiction to my last essay. I’m full of surprises, I know.
Hyperallergic published a Rhea Nayyar essay recently that caught my attention, I admit, out of a typical suspicion I feel whenever people try to smash science and Art together- ;tldr I was disappointed in that regard, and inspired. The article “references new research which posits museums and galleries as ‘accessible, non-clinical spaces for preventive health promotion’…“. Y’all know two things can both be true, right? So “Art is a salve for the soul” can be corny and true. While Nayyar’s intent is that old saw that there’s no substitute for seeing “real” art which I completely agree with and tell my students on the reg, I stayed for the data (link to a pdf) on Art-viewing lowering cortisol levels, as someone who cares about that stuff. So I’ll go ahead and hypocritically fall head first into a trap of my own design and say, with moral clarity, that outcome (Art = better mental state) is a “good” thing.
The topic of the article reminded me I’ve blogged before** about another academic’s essay (link is a pdf) with a similar thesis- “awe felt during experiences with religion and spirituality, nature, art, and music” serves as “the motivation to be good to others.” Feeling good and doing good are clearly not the same and “yes” I think it would hard to do the latter without the former as well.
There’s an another piece of context for this essay, too. Two hours before finishing it, I was standing on a sidewalk with hundreds of other people to say “thank you” to a small group of Buddhist Monks from Fort Worth, Texas who are currently walking the 2,300 miles to Washington, DC, to promote peace and nonviolence. Their gift to us in these trying times has been very inspirational- I chose to walk the 2 miles from my house to downtown in small act of solidarity. And I’m not alone either, not just as someone who has been moved but who felt literally, physically drawn to the energy of this moment in history.
Am I projecting because I was just around so many people that seemed to share my values? Even if so, it can still be true that **it feels good to work for “good.”** I know I just rambled off some science at y’all earlier, and, I also doubt many of you needed to read **that** sentence to know and believe the sentiment.
While I try to be clear headed and fair when I write, I do this thing, like all other writers, out of passion about a topic. I’m not doing this to be right or have a winning argument. In fact, I’m fine with the contradiction that two weeks ago I wrote that moral clarity about good and evil doesn’t lead to desirable outcomes by default and my thesis for today- which is? It sure would be awesome if more folks woke up in the morning and intended to go out into our hurting, scary, intense communities and do something… good! That doesn’t have to be make Art (although looking at some can’t hurt, obviously, and is always appreciated), and it doesn’t have to be something as selfless and heroic as walking two thousand miles. Let the spirit of “good” guide you.
**”yes” it’s sort of wild to re-read a ’21 essay and remember when Small School was still getting going, what with all they’ve added to our community; I’m bummed that the weather kept Jody Servon away this weekend but more events are scheduled (link above is to their events page). And I’ll gladly re-commit a professional error as a writer and admit “yes” I still love how Jean Gray makes our scene awesome- you, too, Pete.
Painting After Art is Dead 