On Art, Joy, and Rebellion

we can create a better world

July 09, 2022

Hello friends,

This week, in the midst of the tumult of the world, I’m appreciating the small things, as usual. I’m also back to appreciating music and all the forms of art that get me through.

I wrote an essay about it. It starts with Stevie Wonder’s song, Master Blaster. If you’ve never listened to that song, take a few minutes and do so, now. The song becomes the backdrop for my thoughts:

The story unfolds: It’s hot out. There’s a block party. Bob Marley is playing from someone’s boom box. People are feeling good and looking good.

Oh, the world has problems, Stevie Wonder reminds us, and the folks in power want us to fight one another, but you know what? We’re going to lift each other up, instead. We’re going to enjoy each other’s company.

The people in power cannot crush the spirit of community.

Marley's Hot on the Box essay cover, with a textured backdrop of a large, old, sound system.

I write a lot more on the topic, and near the close of the essay, I say this:

I’ve long said I write the world I want to live in. Whether that’s non-fiction or fiction, it’s all the same. As a society, we can choose how we live with one another, yet we repeatedly return to oppressing each other and poisoning this earth.

Stories, art, music, movies, dance… all of these are ways we hold out a hand to each other and insist, “You are not alone.”

James Baldwin reminded us of that.

All forms of art and expression can become vehicles to say to the ruling powers, “You do not own us.” And “There is a better way.”

Through our creativity, we can throw a block party for each other, just like in Stevie Wonder’s song. We can dance in the summer sun. Dancing won’t make our problems go away, but it just might help us face them—feeling stronger and more joyful—tomorrow.

We can make art in solidarity with the world we build together.

You can read the whole thing here: Marley’s Hot on the Box.

I hope you are out there today, creating something. And I hope that someone else’s creativity is filling you with a sense of joy or hope.

wishing you well — Thorn

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