Why art is important

Seems in the last few months a debate has been swirling around me about the value of art. First, a conversation with a favorite musician about the value of his work; then that very same week, an article in a local paper about why poetry is important. And, this week, I found this clip of Glen Hansard & Marketa Irglová singing one of the songs that they became known for after the release of the independent film Once in 2007. Hansard and Irglová's song "Falling Slowly" received a 2008 Academy Award for Best Original Song and the soundtrack as a whole also received a Grammy nomination. They were the underdogs, but the award couldn't have been given to more deserving folks.

At some point along the way, I heard Hansard comment in an interview that he often "self-medicated with music" - which is something I can relate to. In the opening to this clip, Hansard says, "Ultimately we invest in art because we want to be taken somewhere...or we want to be brought on some kind of ride." I'm not sure I would have phrased it in exactly the same way, but I think he's right on...

Incidentally, I'm not a big fan of most popular music. But, these two, I like. They are about as real as they can be. And, I like that they offer up their music for the listening. On the website for their collaborative musical project, The Swell Season, you can play a whole set of songs, for free. Which is how music should be. Free. Payment to our favorite artists, I think, should be part of a reciprocal exchange: the artist takes you on a ride, and in return, you buy them dinner...or, well... a gift certificate for something they've been dreaming of doing. : )