Fear and Creativity
What will it take for us to act on our goals and dreams? A worldwide pandemic caused by a new novelty virus? The innocent murder of a a person of color that sparks intense protests and looting in the name of justice and peace? Will it be a radical fascist uprising attempting to overthrow your own government? Or how about international warfare or a global uprising leading us to the brink of another world war?
“It is easier to resist at the beginning than at the end.”
It has been 3 years now since the first U.S stay-at-home lockdown took place in an attempt to prevent the spread of Covid-19. A bizarre time that left us with an eerie memory of how everything in this world radically changed, how fear was instilled into the very depths of us and a realization that life would never be the same.
Considered one of the worst economic downturns since the Great Depression, many were affected negatively by this global crisis, though it can also be said that many found their spark of opportunity. Many changed careers, found the time to be close to their family, took the initiative to maintain their health and some even started their own businesses or organization. One thing that was observed is that for creatives, the lockdown challenged us to face our fears and to look closely at the endeavors that we may have procrastinated too long on.
On a grand collective scale, the fear of not knowing forced many of us to consider the limited time that we have here and if there was a good time to start on our creative aspirations, there was not going to be a better time than now(then).
What resulted from The Great Lockdown of 2020 was a series of openings and closings, bans and restrictions where lifted for short periods only to be implemented again. It was in these intermittent phases that an eagerness of creativity began to emerge. All around one could see that various types of artists were thriving in the showcasing of their work. It was obvious that for some, what culminated under the restrictions and isolated spaces was a longing that worked in favor of their ideas, and they did not allow fear to hinder them but rather ignite more action. It was a feeling of a renaissance and it was surely a time to be alive.
The painters imagination evolved, writers drafted new material and performers created new magical atmospheres. The shutdown left art communities teeming with new ideas and pregnant with creativity and fear was clearly a contributing factor. It is now 3 years later. If the lockdown was only a meager sign of the new times, what will be the next event or period to put us in a place to create?
