Treasuring art and music
- renitazadeh
- Jan 15, 2019
- 2 min read
The novel, Station Eleven, explores the events that could occur after the collapse of civilization. Specifically, it highlights the fact that art is able to survive the collapse while billions of humans are not. This demonstrates its connection to humanity and the significance it has to our individual and social lives. Personally, I can resonate well with the novel since art has played an important role in my life for as long as I can remember.
For me, photography grants me peace, solitude, and something to pour my emotions into. I will admit that when it comes to the photos themselves, I may not have the talent that I have seen among plenty of my peers. It is not something I want to professionally pursue but is something I simply enjoy doing. In that sense, I feel I can understand Miranda’s reason for writing her Station Eleven comics for herself and why she chooses to never publish. Photography serves as meditation for me. I could choose to go take some photos on a forest trail and notice more than I would had I just been going for a stroll. Being more in tune with my surroundings has taught me to appreciate the little aspects of life that complete the whole picture. In different circumstances, I may find household items and use them as tools to express my emotions or a certain event that took place. In a similar way, Miranda creates another world for herself where she becomes Dr. Eleven, in which she reflects her daily life and emotions on to.
A few of my fav photos :)
Just as those in the symphony, I also turn to music to have something to escape into while also granting myself a purpose that goes beyond living my daily life. I have been playing the piano since I was a little girl. As a result, I feel that it has become part of my identity. The symphony members in the novel take up the names of their instruments as their own which shows just how connected they are with their music. Although I wouldn’t change my name to “pianist”, I feel that piano has become a part of me as something I could never live without. It may be for the fact that it requires complete focus or else you will mess up, but each time I play, I forget everything and get to escape into the world of music. Knowing this, I understand why music has become so crucial for these characters post-collapse: it gives meaning to their lives but also helps them cope with the stresses they face each day.
Based on my own experiences with art, I can fathom why the characters in the novel–both before and post collapse–are so dependent on it. Much like a meditative practice, art has provided them (and me) with a way to be creative with their emotions, have a purpose greater than just being or surviving, as well as helping to calm and escape the stresses that come with life.
Great blog Renita! I also find art as a great way to cope with stress and enjoy photography and music a lot. Without mankind, art and music would have never been kept alive and the way the travelling symphony kept this art alive shows how much of an inpact it can have on humanity. Even through great despair and the change of civilization, the form of art was the one thing that stayed constant which I find inspiring. Art will always be a way for others to express their emotions and thoughts through something other than words. It's fasinating to see different photographers or artist create a piece that can be so simply however say a lot. Just as how…
Nice blog post and fantastic photos! :)
I thought that it was very insightful when you mentioned that art survives the apocalypse even when the majority of humanity does not. However, I will add that without humans, art would be non-existent because there would be nobody left to create it. Therefore, the Travelling Symphony is what keeps art alive during the collapse in Station Eleven and becomes the closest manifestation that civilization has to real art. With this in mind, I completely agree with your point when you mentioned that art connects humanity. As the Travelling Symphony travels around the great lakes region, they present their art (usually Shakespeare plays) to the communities that they pass through. The people in…
Art is such a wonderful creation of mankind. We organize sounds to make music that are pleasing to our ears, and we organize colours to make paintings that are pleasing to our eyes. I can definitely see why the apocalypse survivors strive to experience any form of art. I like how we both use music and instruments as a means of escape from reality. Sometimes, just listening to my favourite song can help me destress for a while. Without art, the world would be a very dull and depressing place. Artistic expression is important from both the creators and the audiences. Great article and photographs!
Art can sometimes be an easy way to escape and to express yourself in ways that you didn't know that you could express yourself. With how many forms of art there are, it is nearly impossible to not be able to relate and enjoy a form of art. Although at times I may seem emotionless, my taste in music can sometimes be somewhat slow and sad, and although I do not look like the type of person who would enjoy drama, I feel that it is a great way to express myself. It definetely helps with my mental stability and enjoyment of life knowing that different forms of art can always help you show who you truly are.