Thank you so much to everyone who joined Keeley and me yesterday to talk about a counterintuitive idea: whimsy is resistance. In this conversation, Keeley and I looked at examples of creative work improving the world, especially in hard times. (See: right now).
If you’ve ever worried that writing or painting or making films or sewing or whatever creative pursuits light you up are frivolous or unimportant, please accept this conversation as our argument that creativity is ESSENTIAL.
Arts budgets are the first ones that get cut. Artists are hard to control. We need to continue not only to tell the truth but also to encourage others. When authoritarian regimes try to control and repress, whimsy confounds them.
We hope to continue this conversation:
What does whimsy mean to you?
How are you giving your creativity life now?
Resources discussed in this live:1
The inspiring Reel we mentioned at the beginning: Tara deFrancisco on why art matters.
Oliver Burkeman. His newsletter from yesterday was excellent, as are his books, especially 4000 Weeks and Meditation for Mortals.
Sir Ken Robinson’s Ted talks are iconic for a reason, especially the one on why creativity is as important as literacy. I love his definition of creativity, “The process of having original ideas that have value,” as well as the entire talk, honestly. If you haven’t seen it, it’s a MUST.
So much gratitude to Sarah Rushbrooke, who is wonderful and who recorded the links we promised. If we’ve missed anything, just ask in the comments.
