The great philosopher Aristotle, in his “Poetics”, formulated the well-known definition of tragedy: Tragedy is, then, a representation of an action that is heroic and complete and of a certain magnitude—by means of language enriched with all kinds of ornament, each used separately in the different parts of the play: it represents men in action and does not use narrative, and through pity and fear it effects relief to these and similar emotions.
For Aristotle, tragedy is an art form that imitates a serious act with a preeminent content and aims, through “mercy” and “fear”, to lead to “catharsis”. The Aristotelian term “catharsis” implies – according to its prevailing interpretation – a state in which the viewer is relieved, mentally calmed and redeemed, after the victory of the hero or the restoration of the moral order. By using this term, the philosopher became perhaps one of the first people to refer to the connection between art and the mental world. (1)
However, it is true that the connection of these two “worlds” was not limited to Aristotelian works. Over the centuries, the words “art” and “psychic world” have been often mentioned in the same sentence. Music, literature, cinema, theater, and painting are probably the usual point of contact with the term “art” in our lives, without any of the fine arts being neglected or crowded out of course. Which one of us hasn’t heard at least one song, read at least one book, admired a painting or a photograph, seen at least one movie or a play? The question is how they affect and shape our mental state.
We asked different people to tell us about that book, that song or that movie that they feel that “fills them up” mentally.
R. told us “The Harry Potter books and movies. As a child I adored them. I never missed them when they were on TV. At some point it became a tradition to see them once a year – every year. As I grew older, I discovered different aspects in each film. I was understanding and getting in touch with better and more intense issues being raised. I feel to a great extent that I grew up along with these heroes.”
P. told us about a song and said, “the song that fills me up is Usurum’s “Ise Ki Esi”. It’s a song about the loneliness we feel, even when we might be with other people, and how it feels to share that loneliness, that emptiness. Ever since the first time I heard it, I identified myself with this emptiness because I feel that way quite often and it troubles me. I felt less lonely listening to this song. Now I have literally made the verse ‘Make a feast in a gray and sad sky’ a motto in my life.”
N. told us “The book I always return to when I feel distant from myself is The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. It is the book that marked my adolescence and bound me to the wonderful world of literature – since that moment, there is always a book in my hands. With a parade of emotions, Green made us witness the proof that what matters is the present and that we owe it to ourselves to be happy and authentic.”
Whether it is created or “consumed” by us, art affects our mental and emotional world.
In the context of creation, it functions both as a means of emotional expression and as a source of inspiration. Writing a text, creating a painting, composing a song are perhaps the friendliest forms of expression and they capture all the emotions like a flowing torrent inside us. How many times have you felt fulfilled when you put the words on paper, or smiled while seeing the image you had in your mind coming alive in colors? In moments of emotional charge, when everything inside you threatens to rush in and take away everything going on around you, knowing that you can take refuge in creation works as a comfort. Art’s relationship with emotional expression, however, does not stop there; it also works the other way around. Songs, books, paintings, sculptures and performances are able to intrigue the mind and provide the inspiration required for creation.
In the context of “consumption”, the mental fulfillment that art can provide us with is an element that unites all of us. During our teenage years, in a continuous effort to search for and shape the person we aspired to become, the stimuli we received were able to influence us to the greatest extent. At a time when our call was to forge our own path, the heroes we read about or heard about through songs, with their strengths and weaknesses, became the role models we longed to follow. For some teenagers who refused to think inside the box as those around them did, and tried to pave their own path, these characters were the role models that they struggled to be like. Honestly, who hasn’t secretly wished they had Hermione Granger’s knowledge and courage?
Then there are all the practical things that art has given you. Moments that seemed lonely were covered by the company of a book in your hand or by putting your headphones on. People you met at that concert of your favorite artist became your closest people. Engaging with issues that a work of art made known to you became the trigger to find your interest. Songs and lyrics that talk about life and dreams lifted you up during your worst times. Feelings you didn’t know you could feel. The space to get lost in thoughts and dreams that no one could take away from you.
Art forms are multidimensional and the ways in which it affects everyone’s mental world are equally multifaceted. In moments and situations that seems to be a void, art comes to the rescue. It’d be easy to say that art is the missing piece of the puzzle that, when put in the right place, makes up what is called to be a “human”.
References
1.Δρακόπουλος, Ναστούλης, Ρώμας, Σοφοκλέους Αντιγόνη – Θουκυδίδη Περικλέους Επιτάφιος, Β’ Λυκείου, Βιβλίο Μαθητή (εμπλουτισμένο)
