I remember the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, a world in panic, a world drenched in uncertainty and despair. This was truly a dark time for the world and many people, with people losing their jobs from shutdowns, the amount of death, and just pure isolation from loved ones. I know during this time I was struggling along with most of the world, I couldn’t talk to my classmates, I couldn’t hang out with my friends, and worst of all I couldn’t see my boyfriend. This for me, and a lot of people took a toll on my mental health. However, amidst all the darkness there was one thing that helped me, and many others get through the worst time of the pandemic and that was the arts. I remember during the beginning of the pandemic many artists where using music, plays, and other mediums of art to not only help their mental health, but to help the mental health of others. Artists used their respective mediums to help spread hope, give everyone something to relate to, and give everyone a way to come together. One of the artists that did this was The Backstreet Boys who performed their hit song from the 90’s I Want It That Way in a virtual music video mash-up that featured each group member singing their part of the song from their home. This music video was part of the iHeart Living Room Concert for America, which was performed has a way to give America hope and a sense of coming together during these dark times. This concert also helped to spark a surge in Americans getting into arts and crafts as a coping mechanism and as a way for people of all backgrounds to come together. For many people were starting to use social media has an outlet to share their art projects and comment on others, giving everyone a way to socialize and bring forth a way to bring everyone together. However, this not only something that happens in the real-world. Some fictional works highlight on the theme of the arts in pandemics, with a common one being Station Eleven. In Station Eleven art is seen has something that endures, something that remains, even when things like technology don’t. This is evident from the very first scene and last scenes of the book where the famous play King Lear is shown. By placing King Lear in these scenes, we get the message that even after everything is gone and even after a mass amount of death, art still exists and remains a part of the human soul. Not only does the novel imply this, but it also implies that art survived because it was vital and connected to human life. All throughout the novel we see many characters using art to relate to the world they lost and has a way to connect with others. For example, we see the members of The Traveling Symphony preforming Shakespeare to towns they visit and even just for themselves. They often rehearse lines and even play musical instruments. They also, when raiding empty buildings often look for musical instruments. Another example comes from Miranda, before the pandemic she created the comic Station Eleven. This comic was her way of escaping life, while also drawing parallels to it. This comic book is another piece of art that survives after the pandemic and it acts as an escape and point of relation for many characters. For Tyler, it’s a way to go back to the past, it’s something that allows him to cope with the current situation of the world. For Kristen it’s away for her to remember the past that she so often forgets, while also giving her hope, giving her hope that things will return to normal. However, the biggest thing this comic does is connect people, think about the final interaction between Kristen and Tyler. In their interaction they both keep quoting lines from the comic, while quoting lines they form a connection and have a since of connectedness, in the end this saved Kristen’s life.
The parallels between the arts and pandemics in both Station Eleven and real life are easily seen. With artists in both using the arts to bring people together and give them that light in the dark they need. I for one believe art has saved a lot of people during these dark times and it’s something that is often overlooked. Links: https://variety.com/2020/music/news/backstreet-boys-reunite-i-want-it-that-way-concert-coronavirus-1203548696/ https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/people-are-getting-crafty-while-they-stay-home-180974811/
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