Ali Valerio

Dr. Marinara
ENC 1102 H
29 Jan 2014
Art, Media, and Writing: Holding on to our Humanity
Richard Miller's charged and thought-provoking essay, Dark Night of the Soul, inevitably
leaves its readers with feelings of general hopelessness. While the frankly terrifying introduction about
school shootings does not entirely convince students of a coming apocalypse, it strikingly and
effectively captures their minds and shouts, Hey, this is very bad and very real. Listen up. Miller
tragically raises the question again and again: What is the point of writing in a world full of violence,
danger, and despair? I am quite impressed with Miller's success at taking on such a daunting effort, and
marvel at the accuracy with which he nails home his points. Despite all of that, I find that the true
tragedy here lies not within the answer, but instead within the question.
The author is an accomplished English professor, and he is discussing the horrors of the world
in order to back his claim about the insignificance of his own craft. Could anything be more
discouraging? Of course, it's possible that Miller is posing these questions not because he believes in
this way of thinking, but because he wants his readers to think about what they mean, and if there is
indeed any hope for writing in this crumbling world of ours. If that is the case, then I can gladly say
that there is a hope and a future for writing. In fact, there is a crucial need for three interconnected
areas: art, media, andof coursewriting. In this essay I will define these topics how I see them, and
discuss how and why they are significant and necessary to us all.
THE ARTS: THE POWER OF CREATION AND LETTING GO

When I talk about the arts, I do so in a very broad way. Under this umbrella term, I encompass
the fields of the visual or fine arts, such as drawing, painting, and sculpting; performing arts, such as
music, theater, and dance; and also the literary arts, such as writing fiction, non-fiction, and poetry,

though I will be withholding my comments on writing for now, as they will be in the final section of
my essay. There are obviously other artistic endeavors than those I listed above, such as film and
television, but they don't as easily fit into specific categories. The point here, though, is that all of these
center around creativity, and, more specifically, creation. It's about putting something beautiful in the
world that wasn't there before. The incredible worth and value of art doesn't come from the amount of
money that can be squeezed out of it. It doesn't even come from those who are watching or spectating
from the outside. The deep intrinsic value of art comes from the power of the the artists to let go. To let
go of themselves, of their fears, of their joys, of their sorrows, and of their passions, and share them
with the world.
Art is what the artists hide deeps within themselves, and good art is found when the artists learn
to give it away. They do so in a healthy fashion, in a display of elegance and craftsmanship. When
those deep emotions cannot be expressed in a healthy way and must be suppressed, due to any number
of grim circumstances, the consequences can be destructive and sometimes even catastrophic, as we
have explored in Miller's essay.
We are all artists, whether we think of ourselves as such or not. Even without a paintbrush, or an
instrument, or a camera, we still produce our own unique works of art. Sometimes that art is a company
that we build from the ground up. Sometimes it is a discovery that brings us closer to solving life's
greatest questions. Sometimes it is even only a memory of us that remains with our loved ones after we
have gone. We are all artists, and instilled in us is a necessity to express our emotions, our art. The
beauty of the arts, of paintings and plays and photographs, is that the artwork is easy to recognize, and
easy to celebrate. Art keeps us human, and keeps us from becoming inhumane.
MEDIA: THE POWER OF CONNECTIONS AND IDENTITY

When I make us of the word media, I am talking about the broad channels of mass
communication such as film, video games, television, and books. Just as with the arts, there are many
forms of media, and much more to it than what I've mentioned, but my uses for media in this essay are

mainly exclusive to entertainment purposes. My notion of media is also very similar to that of the arts,
and it is true that both areas surround the same ideas. However, I am looking at the two areas from
opposite perspectives. In the arts, my focus was on those creating the arts, but with media, my focus is
on the consumption of media and the public that consumes it. Some forms of entertainment out there
are not desirable or appropriate for the general public, and so my statement of value in entertainment
could easily be seen as controversial. However, I am discussing the forms of entertainment that are
pleasurable and wholesome and leave us feeling content, inspired even, when we consume it.
Some may argue that this media is no more than a pleasant pastime, but deep down it is much
more than that. Books and movies provide us with an experience, a journey, that is unique for all of us.
They allow us to make connections of all kinds. We connect with other media that we have seen, heard,
and read; we connect with our own personal experiences; and finally, we connect with each other and
the rest of the world. Human connections and relationships are pivotal to well-being, and media helps
to build and modify those relationships, especially in American culture. It gives us something to talk
about; we examine it, agree with it, disagree with it, complain about it, celebrate it, and most
importantly, we share it. We connect. In establishing these connections, we consequently establish parts
of our own identity. We discover who we are, what we enjoy, and what we despise. It aids us in
knowing about ourselves and those around us, and how we relate to them. That is incredibly important,
because connections and identity are also essential in keeping us human. They keep us from going
down an isolated and lonely path that leads to destruction. In this way media is a powerful tool, and one
that is absolutely critical.
WRITING: THE POWER OF EVERYTHING ABOVE, AND MORE

I chose to discuss writing as my last topic because it the most personal to me. If you were to
look at my dinner plate, you would notice that I save the best for last. For much of my life, writing has
played a special role, and fulfilled a deep desire. It has always been something I can go to at any

moment, with complete privacy, and therefore complete confidence. When I'm alone with my own
personal writing, I am not limited to the confines of a homework assignment, only to my imagination.
Writing functions as its own topic in my essay, but in reality it is very much connected to the
other two. It is the driving force behind much of the arts and virtually all media, and its boundaries
naturally exceed far beyond those two areas alone. It is the ladder, the stepping stone, the doorway to
the rest of the world's opportunities. Are there really, truly, any limits to its potential? While we don't
doubt its monumental contribution to society, we may question its worth to us as individuals, especially
those of us who don't think of ourselves as writers outside the classroom.
We appear to be back where we started, with Miller's question still looming heavily. Much has
been said about the value of arts, and media, but what of writing itself, at its core? Why is it important
to us, when other values are falling away with every gun that goes off? The answer is that writing is an
extension of ourselves. With every essay, assignment, journal entry, grocery list, and every other piece
of writing in ourselves, we are reminded of who we are and what we believe in. Like the arts and
media, writing keeps us rooted in our humanity. In a world in which we are losing control, writing
gives us control. In a world in which we grow increasingly powerless, writing gives us power. And in a
world, like Miller proposes, where we are seemingly hopeless, writing gives us that which we need in
difficult times, perhaps more than anything else: hope. Writing grounds us.
CONCLUSION

Yes, there is violence and danger in the world. There are violent people who commit violent
crimes. But what about the rest of us? There are plenty of people who have no intention of being a
threat to those around them. Should they be denied the joys that the arts, media, and writing can bring?
In fact, it would be no surprise if many nonviolent people have the arts, media, and/or writing to serve
as anchors in their lives. Not only do these topics enhance quality of life, they help to reduce the threat
of losing our way. That's because they give us something to hold on to. They help us find ourselves,
time and time again. Art comes from inside of us. Media teaches us about ourselves. Writing defines us.

They allow us to hold on to our humanity, and give us something to celebrate. And among all of the
chaos that goes on in everyday life, especially the destruction that comes from human hostility,
celebrating the light in a dark world is more important now than ever before.