In the 18 months since Covid arrived, I wonder if we have changed our ideas about what is essential? From the beginning, we understood that our essential workers are paramedics, nurses, doctors, supermarket employees, freight and logistics professionals etc. These are the people who take care of our most basic needs: food, shelter, clothing & health care. Parents talk of their new appreciation for teachers and child care workers and we understand that they do amazing things with little support.
We have seen the closure of music venues, hairdressers, cafes, bars, galleries, florists. We have seen the banning of weddings, religious gatherings are by zoom, choirs can't sing and funerals have been minimised to a brief, lonely ceremnoy for the disposal of remains.
People are depressed, suicides are up, there are rallies and riots and daily news updates about when we might see our freedoms returned.
This morning, when I read the above quote about writing being "inessential" I of course knew what Ms Gay meant but I also wanted to write and tell her how very essential the "non-essentials" have turned out to be. The pandemic has taught us how much we need our artists and writers because humanity can exist on essentials but we don't truly live when we are cut off from each other and from the expression of our humanity.
The things that have kept us going are the funny memes, the musicians playing in their bedrooms, dressing up to put the bins out, Zoom drinks and quiz nights, beloved pets, books and netflix.
I am with you. Art (in all its myriad forms) IS an essential to a life rather than an existence. And yes, I consider humour an art form. And whimsy. And fun.
ReplyDeleteThe more I think about it the more I consider beauty an essential. Huge thanks to those who create it, nurture it or simply appreciate it.
DeleteEC, we talk about things like food and health care as essential but we all die a little without beauty
DeleteLove this post Kylie - at the moment for me it’s the little things in life that are the most important.
ReplyDeleteHope your well and not stressed too much about life in Sydney at the mo’
Take care
Cathy
Hi Cathy,
DeleteI'm not stressed about covid although we are noticing it's infecting friends of friends which is not many degrees of separation.
The little things are probably the most reliable right now, aren't they?
Stay safe!
Essentially we are all essential!
ReplyDeleteSx
Yes!
DeleteWith modern communication methods and social media being in touch with others has not been difficult and sharing one's anxiety with others has been very helpful too. My life, even before covid restrictions, mostly a sedentary one, did not change much except for some minor inconveniences like the barber and dentist shutting down.
ReplyDeleteRamana, you manage everything with calm and have great social networks. It's a credit to you
DeleteI don't think I ever used the word "essential" in reference to people and places shutting down. It seemed like a division that was not necessary. Everyone needs to be valued and essential.
ReplyDeleteWe hear about "essential workers" every day here and I take my hat off to them all but the longer this thing stretches out, the more we need our artists
DeleteIn some ways we learned things. I like the dressing up to take out the garbage...it's thinking outside the box. We have to think out side the box and outside our comfort zone. We have to learn how to give some things up for a while ... I hope.
ReplyDeleteYes, and make the most of what we can do. There have been some marvellous examples of thinking outside the box
DeleteI think many people have reflected on what "essential" is - and in a good way. The staggering number of people who have, or will, quit their jobs to maybe take on something less stressful or to be able to work from home puts much into perspective. While this pandemic has been dreadful, let's hope some good can come of it ultimately in that people reassess just what "essential" is - or, just how much really isn't that important at the end of the day!
ReplyDeleteIn a strange way, covid has been a purifying force for some. I know there is a great deal of suffering but I hope we all come out of it better
DeleteI think most people know very well who are the essential workers who keep society going. It's mainly the politicians who don't recognise them as essential and think that poor working conditions and low salaries are all they deserve.
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, artists and writers and those in the arts generally are essential to our wellbeing, another group the politicians have no time for. Their idea of essential is business owners who squeeze their employees to the limit and make shedloads of money.
Well they need their cronies and sycophants
DeleteAbsolutely Kylie. Being 'human' isn't just about survival.
ReplyDeleteSurvival is such a low bar to aim for. I appreciate the essential workers and the risks they are taking but its the creatives who drag us out of the muck and of course the two groups aren't mutually exclusive
DeleteI haven't dj-ed for nearly 2 years now, and I'm not sure anyone will want to book me again. Things have changed for musicians, artists, actors etc. In the process of relaying on the essentials it seems people are less keen to enjoy the non essentials.
ReplyDeleteI was trying to say that we need you guys more right now but I can't argue with what you are saying. Surely people will want djs when they are confident of their health situation?
DeleteI fully agree - what's called essential is what's needed for our bodies to keep going, but it's art of all kinds that feeds our spirits.
ReplyDeleteYes and I think we need to feed our spirits right now
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