New Year , Lightish!

Ah New Years Eve a day for reflection and contemplation or using whatever means are available to avoid doing the same!

I started the reflection bit a week ago when the papers started publishing reviews of the year in film, theatre and music etc.  Over the past year I’ve rekindled my interest in “The Arts” aka I’ve went to the cinema a couple of times and to the odd play and even on a road trip to The Galway Arts festival! I also dabbled into the whole literature thing, reading some books which had received wonderful reviews or won awards, I may have discovered a love for the arts, but the literature part still escapes me. Embracing the One City One Book in April and reading “Dubliners” inspired me to cross Ulysses off my bucket list!

I’ve never been a huge music fan and wouldn’t consider myself to have any sort of taste in music; in fact I’d sort of given up on it. Nevertheless often when I’m drawing or walking or looking at a piece of art it’s often a line from a song which pops into my head! It’s strange as somehow it all seems to come together from somewhere in the subconscious!!

I’ve always been a pretty sciencey person and didn't put much weight in the arts, however some of the themes the artists I’ve encountered have dealt with, particularly those in relation to human nature, suffering and resilience have revealed the deep understanding and body of knowledge which exists and often lies ignored within the arts. My horizons have broadened to say the least! No longer can I sit in my “Ivory Tower” and look down at the rappers and rock stars of this world, thinking them to be off the wall, not living in the real world, their opinions, knowledge, skill and views may be expressed through different media, but just because I and perhaps some of the so called experts don’t always get it doesn't mean a thing! My favourite song of the year as you may have guessed was Labyrinth and Emilie Sande the lyrics are beautiful, the other song which I heard and which have resonated with me included Katherine Jenkins singing Angel. However I’ve also had bursts of inspiration from Dolly Parton, Green Day and One Direction.

It was however films and dramas which had the most impact on me. Two films I would encourage you to see are “What Richard Did” and “Silver Linings Playbook” and of course the eye opening and gritty ”Love Hate” was yet again the most moving drama I watched.

 I emerged from seeing what Richard Did and concluded that it wasn't a film that I enjoyed seeing, although the lead actor is pretty hot!, but it was a film I certainly will have benefited from seeing . It really conveyed how drastically things can change due to one mistake, the way in which actions undertaken under the influence of excessive alcohol can result in lifelong or life limiting consequences and the internal prison of the mind and the conscience. The acting and the storyline was so powerful it blew me away. I’d incorporate this film into the Drink Aware campaign immediately and think it should be introduced as an essential part of the S.P.H.E curriculum immediately.

Silver Linings Playbook shone a light on mental illness, the associated stigma and challenges faced by those struggling with mental illness and the capacity to grow and develop and live a satisfactory life while managing mental health issues. It lead me to question my own position in relation to mental health issues and to reflect on which of the characters portrayed I empathised most with and which traits I could see in those around me. It also opened my eyes to the variety of people and their different journeys which exists. The capacity of shared interests to act as a uniting or dividing factor was portrayed through  sport and finally the support which can be offered by those who genuinely care irrespective of how flawed their attempts to offer help may be was evident and all of this was conveyed through an entertaining , engaging comedy!

Love Hate, well it makes me look at the reports of gangland killings, drugs hauls, prostitution etc. from a much more human perspective. It’s not just news any-more and it’s a dark lonely world which I'm keen to avoid. Sometimes a touch of reality and a display of humanity have a greater impact than the most elaborate “Special Effects”