What's the point of making art when the world is falling apart?

On creating both despite the times and because of the times.

Last night I was calling a friend and talking about the summer job I’ll start in a few weeks. In that vein, we began to talk about careers, and more specifically, why I don’t want one, at least not in a traditional sense. I said I hated the idea of dumping my time and effort into some office job because it doesn’t feel natural. Jobs like insurance and banking and accounting are man-made constructs to organize our society and wouldn’t exist under apocalyptic conditions. Love and art, on the other hand, are inherent to our species, exist naturally, and persist through all circumstances. Instead of spending my life reinforcing a system that exists solely because we maintain it, I want to devote myself to creating meaningful stories that come from the soul and capture reality as it is.

Some people would argue that the arts are not “necessary” or “useful,” especially not in a highly digitized world entrenched in convenience culture. On top of that, the world constantly feels like it’s falling apart. My generation is faced with climate change, an impossibly high cost of living, and an oversaturated job market. AI is everywhere and critical thinking seems to be on a decline. Despite my efforts to see the world as a beautiful place, I often find myself becoming cynical and losing hope for the future. I spent most of my second year of college miserably contemplating my life choices and wondering what the point of writing my silly little stories was if they would never make a mark on the world or address any of these huge issues. For a while I believed my passions and skills were useless. They felt frivolous, the tiny top triangle on Maslow’s hierarchy that no one actually needed. I felt ashamed for wanting a creative life instead of an “adult job.” I thought I had to face an ultimatum between myself and my dignity, my passion and my “usefulness” to society. I felt like a child who refused to grow up.

After further contemplation, I’ve realized that life is too short not to do what I love. Having a passion is a gift, and I’d be crazy not to pursue it. Instead of letting arbitrary measures of intelligence and professionalism shape my future, I decided to do what I’ve always wanted to do and dive headfirst into my creative vision. Nevertheless, from time to time, the nagging question persists—what’s the point of any of this when it feels purely decorative? Whats’s the point of making art when the world is falling apart?

The world has always been falling apart. Not a year has passed which was not marked by some form of tragedy. Conspiracy theorists have been peddling the “end of the times” for centuries, and young people have always romanticized the past. Grandparents have always reminisced on the old days and complained about technology. While there are certainly issues that have escalated or presented themselves in the last decade (again: climate change and AI), it’s not like there wasn’t a time when things weren’t going to shit. However, another common thread through history has been the presence of the arts, which only goes to show that we are inclined to be creative.

Global conflicts should not be a deterrent to creating art. The presence of AI “art” shouldn’t stop you from painting. Declining literacy rates shouldn’t dissuade you from writing. Creating will help us deal with the world as it is. We can turn our suffering and cynicism into something that will outlive us. As the internet fills up with slop, we can make something authentic that comes from the soul. People don’t read for the sake of reading; they read to connect to the characters and themes, which are a hundred times more poignant when it comes from a real person with lived experiences. Likewise, art is a part of us. It doesn’t stand in opposition to the pressures and conflicts of the world around us. Instead, it comes directly from it and is a way to come to terms with life—the beauty, the terror, the daunting permanence and ephemerality of it all. When it feels like the world is collapsing, make something about it.

In her book “We Need Your Art,” Amie McNee says “art is not a toaster,” i.e. people don’t stop buying creative products after just one. People will read dozens of books they love and listen to hundreds of songs of the same genre. They will watch a good movie and seek out more movies that are similar to it. Someone out there will connect with your book or song. Make art because someone needs it, and more importantly, because it lives within you and wants out. Don’t worry about the reception or the “importance” of your work. Art feeds the soul, and we live in a world that tends to neglect that. Creation is a form of resistance against the mindless obedience and consumerism that’s captivated our culture, and it is the only thing that grows organically from our hearts. We have nothing in this life but love and creation.

Thanks for reading!

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