I'm sure mostly everyone reading this post has had the trouble of going through the death of some significant person in their lifetime. It's a very painful and emotional experience, and it raises many questions about our own mortality. Death brings out such deep emotion that it's nearly impossible for even the most apathetic and antisocial person to keep their true emotions completely hidden. It is, of course, then easy to see how death can bring about incredibly deep and intricate poetry, or just art in general.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, for example, experienced the death of his best friend, Arthur Henry Hallam (also a writer) when he was only in his 20's. Tennyson was stricken with grief over the whole idea, but was inspired by his death, enough to dedicate at least two fairly long poems to Hallam. One of these poems In Memoriam A.H.H is regarded by some critics to be the best of Tennyson's work, mainly because of its deep emotional insight.
Of course, Tennyson obviously wasn't the only artist to produce great artwork in the wake of a loved one's death. In fact, nearly every artist has a breakthrough of some in the passing of a significant person in their life. From painters to sculptors... From poets and writers to musicians, death has brought about some of the best of artists everywhere.
Take, for example, Maynard James Keenan (lead singer of the bands Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer). Keenan lost his mother at a young age and later went to dedicate an entire album to her with the group, Tool. The album was titled "10,000 Days" for the time period that his mother fought cancer before finally losing that battle. Many regard this work as Maynard's most emotional work and it represented a really emotional insight into his life, which made his work much more interesting to listen to.
Death is an unexpected and unfortunate thing, but as horrible as it sounds, it does have an upside, at least artistically. So, the next time any of you go through the emotional stress of the death of a close friend, don't hesitate to let those emotions flow freely in some form of art. Write down some thoughts, write a song, or just paint freely on a canvas with all that emotion... It might just get you somewhere.
Alfred, Lord Tennyson, for example, experienced the death of his best friend, Arthur Henry Hallam (also a writer) when he was only in his 20's. Tennyson was stricken with grief over the whole idea, but was inspired by his death, enough to dedicate at least two fairly long poems to Hallam. One of these poems In Memoriam A.H.H is regarded by some critics to be the best of Tennyson's work, mainly because of its deep emotional insight.
Of course, Tennyson obviously wasn't the only artist to produce great artwork in the wake of a loved one's death. In fact, nearly every artist has a breakthrough of some in the passing of a significant person in their life. From painters to sculptors... From poets and writers to musicians, death has brought about some of the best of artists everywhere.
Take, for example, Maynard James Keenan (lead singer of the bands Tool, A Perfect Circle, and Puscifer). Keenan lost his mother at a young age and later went to dedicate an entire album to her with the group, Tool. The album was titled "10,000 Days" for the time period that his mother fought cancer before finally losing that battle. Many regard this work as Maynard's most emotional work and it represented a really emotional insight into his life, which made his work much more interesting to listen to.
Death is an unexpected and unfortunate thing, but as horrible as it sounds, it does have an upside, at least artistically. So, the next time any of you go through the emotional stress of the death of a close friend, don't hesitate to let those emotions flow freely in some form of art. Write down some thoughts, write a song, or just paint freely on a canvas with all that emotion... It might just get you somewhere.
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