Which came first?
Why am I asking this question?
Well, on January 20th, the 45th President of the United States was sworn in. The 44th said adieu. Before getting to this point, and after, truthfully, there has been this frenzy of information, opinion, and activity overload. It's like that Teen Titans Go! episode where the whole world got wrapped up in a blanket and a giant stink bomb blew up creating the universe's largest dutch oven (if you are going EWWWW! at this point, can't say I blame you, nor could I blame you if you're laughing like a hyena).
But...that's actually my point. You see what I did? I totally pulled in a reference to a TV show. There have been, and continue to be, so many TV, movie, and book references used throughout this recent election process. It got me to wondering: How much of life is an imitation of art OR is art an imitation of life?
Think of the food generators on Star Trek. It was so cool to see the actors/actresses tell the computer what they wanted and then watch it appear right before them, whether hot or cold. I haven't seen this in in my neck of the woods just yet, but we're getting close:
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| Hot food vending machine. Picture credit to Throwback Tech. |
So which came first, the dragon or the egg. Is art an imitation of life or is life an imitation of art?
When it comes to writing science fiction and fantasy, we as writers can create the foundation for a world drawing out how such spectacular beings as dragons, vampires, were-animals, leviathans, and other fantastical creatures, came to be. As readers, we get to embark on the adventure of discovery as the lay of the land is artistically woven for us a paragraph at a time.
But I am curious. What about you? What are your thoughts?
Please share in the comments then feel free to share this post with others so they, too, can comment and we can have a fantastic discussion.
You made me laugh! Teen Titans GO is one of my son's favorite shows, and I even have a hoodie with them on it. Heh. Deep thoughts this morning. Much of what we as humans do is an imitation, I think. There will always be those who come up with something original, though. Life itself is beautiful art and thus magnificent inspiration.
ReplyDeleteTeen Titans Go can be so silly but my daughter also likes them lol!
DeleteThank you for sharing your thoughts. I love how you mention life being beautiful art and thus inspiring.
Great question! I think it's a bit of both. Life typically comes first to some extent, but when we get into the realms of the future, particularly in science fiction, then the art can inspire us to create things in the real world.
ReplyDeleteYou know, I have wondered how much of science fiction can soon drop the fiction part.
DeleteI made up a new song: Vodka and ruuum are so awesoome. :) I think what we imagine will at some point be a reality. Then art will also reflect these times and artists incorporate it into their work. So, it goes both ways. Art inspires us and the world inspires us. There's lots of hope out there and beauty. We can't give up on it. Ie, I love the show Parks and Recreation. Leslie Knope goes through a brutal town hall where the citizens shred her. At the end, one of the leaving men says something really rude to her. Something like, "Hey Park Lady, stick it." ... along those lines. She says: Did you hear that? He called me Park Lady. So I decided I'm looking at life that way from now on.
ReplyDeleteLoving the song and really enjoyed your response. Very open perspective.
DeleteIt seems to me art imitates life. There's been a few stories I've read then later discovered they were inspired by something that happened in real life.
ReplyDeleteThose stories where art imitates life can be so enthralling.
DeleteBoth. Sometimes art is born of wishful thinking (which can eventuate) and sometimes life (in all its chaotic mess, misery and beauty) is the key.
ReplyDeleteIt is the end of the day and, right now, I can't get past stink bomb:) I think art and life go hand in hand. The sad part is that some art is really bad but people flock to see it anyway (think Kardashiass). We need art in our life and, from the caveman days, we need to express ourselves through art.
ReplyDeleteI laughed while saying "eew" and much appreciated the humor.
ReplyDeleteTo tell the truth, I think both are the correct answer. I think the spark of creation could as easily create the egg/embryo as it can the fully developed being. To me, the most amazing thing isn't "which came first," but how existence is possible at all.
To quote a famous Chaos Theorist (Malcolm: Jurassic Park): "Life finds a way."
Another of my favorite quotes - from Isaac Asimov, but I'm not sure - is "today's science fiction is tomorrow's science fact. And again, who knows if seeing something creative - man made or in nature - doesn't inspire creativity, or vice versa.
I just accept that the world needs both, and removing art programs in any form from school is a disservice to future thinkers, innovators, and inventers. Science, creativity, and progress are all symbiotic. Nothing wrong with a little fantasy along the way.
I agree with MPax, sometimes life imitates art, and sometimes it's the other way around. I do find it interesting the writers often write about things before they get invented, like space travel. 100 years ago, that was just a fantasy.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea that creativity can help the future. :) But, I think it's both. Sometimes, art imitates life and sometimes life imitates art.
ReplyDeleteWish I had more to add because I love all the awesome, thoughtful comments here.