Student Blog: Shifting The Spotlight

Art is blooming everywhere I look, and the more I think about it, the more I realize that what we choose to consume influences us as people and as artists, and ultimately, what we put out into the world. I’m extremely lucky to attend a school where there's constant art around me. Not only in the theatre department, but also in dance, voice, music, and so much more. Of course, our day-to-day lives are busy, and it’s easy to move through everything without actually stopping to take a look around. But, I’m starting to realize how important it is to expand my horizons as an artist to build a more well rounded perspective and notice all the art around me, not just the things I immediately gravitate toward.

There is so much incredible art I have seen this year, especially at my school and around Boston, much of which I’ve never seen anything similar to before. Even in the theatre industry, it feels like we see the same kinds of shows on Broadway and on tours over and over again. It's easy to get comfortable with familiar stories and formulas, but I think it's really important to look at work that confronts our expectations and exposes us to something new.

In my Global Theater Histories class at school, I’ve been introduced to so much new work that I might not have discovered otherwise. Some pieces were completely new, and other pieces pushed me to see art I already knew in a new way, reshaping narratives and initiating important discussions about mainstream works. I’m extremely grateful for this class because it pushes me beyond what’s already curated for the same audiences, and it has encouraged me to look deeply into work that exists outside the mainstream. It’s remarkable how much more is out there that isn’t widely known or promoted in popular media, because those works are SO incredible. So many of them are rich with depth and have shown me something past the surface. This learning experience has helped me think more critically about what I consume as an artist, and reinforced how important it is to explore beyond your usual lane in theater, storytelling, or creative identity.

That said, while there is so much great content online that I think is extremely important to explore, there is also so much amazing art happening in the communities all around us. Supporting smaller artists and lesser-known theaters or companies is vital! As artists, I think it’s so important to show up for each other in all the ways we can, especially in a world where it often feels like art is becoming more commercialized and artificial in many ways. Getting involved locally and supporting the work of our community members can influence and steer us towards many new opportunities of our own.

Overall, pushing myself to explore art beyond what I would normally gravitate to, whether that’s in the classroom, online, or in my community, has most definitely helped transform me into the artist I strive to be. I find that now, I am drawn to unfamiliar things, even if they challenge me or make me uncomfortable at first. I think it's so important for me as an artist to widen my understanding and open myself to new outlooks and ways of thinking. Although it may not click completely at first, I feel like I have become a different artist and individual because of the experiences I have opened myself up to. I hope that by sharing what I’ve learned, someone else might feel encouraged to step out of their comfort zone, even if it’s just a little. Because for me, those unanticipated moments are where I’ve found the most inspiration!