How Art Changed My Year

By ShayLa Blake

2020 was a year unlike any other that led to unique experiences for every person. For me, 2020 was the year of change and it seemed as though nothing in my life was how it used to be. Some things changed for the better, and others for the worse, but nonetheless, things were definitely different. This constant shift in my realities left me questioning where I actually fit into this world, who I am compared to who I was and what I wanted to do next in life. These questions are far from answered, and just like many of life's other grand mysteries, they do not have just one answer. When looking to find some clarity, I leaned on art to rationalize these conflicts.

“Jenny Jenkins” by Mt. Joy

“Jenny Jenkins” is a song by Mt. Joy that I discovered around summertime last year. It's the type of song that just speaks to you from the first listen. “Jenny Jenkins” is an account of young love and what it means to be free in a world full of confinement. The overarching theme of the song is relatable to young people, but the line that resonated the most with me and helped me answer my questions of existence was “No written rules or commandments, it was enough to be alive”. This line in particular speaks volumes about how life doesn’t have to be a grand adventure all the time, that it's okay to just take a moment to simply be alive.

2. “Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chobosky

I read “Perks of Being a Wallflower” at the beginning of quarantine as a way to fill up my time. I had watched the movie back in middle school, and I might have been too young to truly get all the messages this story has to tell. When I finally settled down to read the book, I was the same age as the main character, Charlie, and the timing couldn’t have been more perfect. Charlie goes through the ups and downs of growing up, and watching how he processes life was almost like seeing myself on the page. I learned a lot about what it truly means to be a friend, as well as what it takes to let others be a friend to you.

3. “Into the Wild” written by Jon Krakauer and directed by Sean Penn

Although “Into the Wild” is a fantastic book, the movie is cinematic art. The way in which it's filmed makes one feel as though the story’s world exists in the tangible— as though we’ve been transported into the story and can now go through the events that take place. The plot follows Christopher McCandless on his journey of self discovery and detachment from the world. After seeing his factual journey and the many capabilities he discovered, it really makes you question what you are capable of. “Into the Wild” taught me that, sometimes, in order to find yourself or the person you want to be, you have to detach from things and start anew.

4. “Some people never go crazy. What truly horrible lives they must lead” - Charles Bukowski

I found this quote by author Charles Bukowski near the end of 2020, and it really helped me realize that it's important to get comfortable in your own headspace. I couldn’t tell you how many times I struggled with feeling crazy throughout 2020, and I think that's a sentiment we can all agree on. After hearing this quote, I realized that the things I was feeling and questioning didn’t make me crazy; it just showed the deeper, more empathetic parts of myself, and that's okay. If we all don’t go crazy at least once in our lives, then I don’t think we are actually living.

5. Andy Warhol selfie collage

This piece of art actually came to me in the form of a giant puzzle (of which I have yet to put together), but it was the picture on the box that left a significant impact. The picture consists of selfies taken by artist Andy Warhol throughout his life and, true to his artistic style, they are all very goofy, strange pictures. I was originally drawn to it because I enjoy Warhol’s other artwork, but after a while of fruitlessly trying to complete the puzzle, it began to represent much more than just a collection of pictures. Warhol shows all the sides of his personality through the photos and in turn, shows people who he truly is, which is ever changing and dynamic. This picture showed me that you don’t have to be singular in life, that it's okay to be dynamic in a somewhat static world.

We consume so much fleeting art in a single year that it makes moments special when those lasting ones stick out. Amidst these five works of art, I have found impactful messages that I can bring into 2021; hopefully, they will shape my year and continue answering life’s big questions. If you’re struggling with these big life questions, I implore you to look towards art for a solution because, through art, you can find something or someone who knows what it’s like to ask those big questions.

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