The arts are often dismissed by some as: ‘airy, fairy, inconsequential nonsense’. What utter rot, I say, and counter, that, without art there would be no inspiration for the songs to which we listen, the clothes we wear, paintings that adorn our walls, the films and TV shows we watch; the books we read, and even the cartoons and comic books enjoyed by our children.
Creative minds should be nurtured, encouraged and challenged to keep producing ever more inventive and progressive work. People work hard and deserve some enjoyment for their leisure hours. Things we take for granted can wither below our expectant gaze.
Reading a book that flows with a story full of richly created characters: funny, vile, or perhaps, complex; a gripping plot; exquisite prose – all make for effortless page-turning, but what sweat, time and mind-cramping toil has gone into that work to make it so enjoyable? A book is a creation.
A painting: beautiful, thought-provoking, colourful, or perhaps shocking, hanging there for you to view, to dismiss, to object, reject, but ultimately, it has done its job, to stay with you.
A play, a few hours of escapism, watching actors spout and prance across the stage. The script: cunning, amusing, maybe frightening. The script-writer has agonized over the words; the actors have interpreted meaning, intention and outcome. It’s called a production for a reason – hard labour!
All those song-writers: minds stuffed with words, notes, emotion and sound.
Genius should be rewarded; not everyone can do it.