Putin invaded Ukraine and WWIII might come any day, nor nukes. The pandemic? Still not all the way through nor the social ruptures of mask wars. Black Lives demand, louder and rightly, to matter. Trans kids are under attack along with, it seems the right to say or read anything “uncomfortable.” In light of all this, isn’t hope stupid? No amount of humans being kind to each other or helpless animals videos on social media will fix these huge problems we face, so why bother with art?
Yet, I do. Art matters, more now than ever. I know I’m not saying something new or original. So what? It need to be said. On repeat, for forever. I’m joining the choir. Making art is an act of hoping and the mere act of hoping can be an act of rebellion.
I deny the idea of easy answers, the idea of definitive ones in some cases, but move forward anyway. Hope not only can survive uncertainty, but makes it something you can step beyond surviving. Don’t get me wrong, survival is an accomplishment, but to do so with your humanity? That’s often a miracle, and art makes that possible. it shows us that come understanding is possible, even if incomplete, that the villains have reasons that we can recognize and own and that, in the end, it comes down to our choices.
I know that not everyone gets good choices. I also know that by choosing, we designate one of those bad choices worse. Art gives you a path to tell the difference.
To sum up, I choose to start in hope by making art today. And I’ll hope tomorrow will be better and will do the work to make it that way.