I don't know why it was so striking this week, but my Humanities class really struck a chord. I think the arts are so important because they are really cathartic for some people and have the ability to touch and teach us in a way nothing else can. This week we focused on adaptations and it was really fascinating.
One of the most striking things about adaptations is how impressible the first medium we experience a piece in is. For instance, you read a book and love it. They create a movie based on the book but the book will always be your favorite. The book is what got you attached and will be what continually holds your interest. This concept doesn't always hold true, but it is interesting how frequently it does. This started making me think of how often this idea holds true to life in general. For instance, our first experience with religion is often the one that makes the greatest impression on our morals and concept of God. Or when you make a friend and later gain more friends, the first friend often is the one we're closest to. Disagree all you want, but I see these kind of things all the time.
The idea that art is cathartic or therapeutic also stuck out to me. One of the best examples we viewed was the song Hurt by Nine Inch Nails redone by Johnny Cash. The song is really deep and sad. It was meant to be that way, I'm sure, but despite the sadness it conveys an incredible message. This was particularly poignant when we listened to Johnny Cash's version. If you know anything about the man, you know he had a pretty screwed up life. He had lots of family struggles as well as drug addictions. As he performed his rendition of this song you could really feel his pain and remorse, how much he wished things had turned out differently, how hard his life really was despite the celebrity "glamor". To preview this song click here.
Never underestimate the power of art. You never know when it will find you and make a lasting impression on you.
-M
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