The Infinite Power of Imagination
29 January 2014
“Keep your eyes on the stars and your feet on the ground” – Theodore Roosevelt. This poster (above) has hung in my room for several years now, is a constant reminder of how I try to make it through each day: imagination.
What kind of place would the world be
without imagination? It’s an extraordinary phenomenon when you stop to think
about it. Every great invention or discovery started with a little imagination,
with something thinking “What if…?” It is a crucial part of human intelligence
and development, and without it we would almost certainly still be living in
caves.
without imagination? It’s an extraordinary phenomenon when you stop to think
about it. Every great invention or discovery started with a little imagination,
with something thinking “What if…?” It is a crucial part of human intelligence
and development, and without it we would almost certainly still be living in
caves.
Imagination is a vast topic – limitless really,
stretching as far as any individual’ mind can reach. So, the aspect I want to
focus on is the one I feel most passionate about – imagination in the world of
art. Art covers a vast array of subjects, from painting to music to fiction and
everything in between. Imagination and
art come together to provide us with creations of beauty, of emotion, of drama;
they can be as close to or as removed as possible from our everyday lives. It is
true mark of the greatness of the human mind, that we can dream new worlds, mad
adventures and even something as complex as human personalities.
stretching as far as any individual’ mind can reach. So, the aspect I want to
focus on is the one I feel most passionate about – imagination in the world of
art. Art covers a vast array of subjects, from painting to music to fiction and
everything in between. Imagination and
art come together to provide us with creations of beauty, of emotion, of drama;
they can be as close to or as removed as possible from our everyday lives. It is
true mark of the greatness of the human mind, that we can dream new worlds, mad
adventures and even something as complex as human personalities.
I’m particularly passionate about
imagination in this sense, as I believe we would not be able to cope with the
real world without it. It fuels our dreams and desires and gives us hope of
something better. The real world can be wonderful, but it can also be
terrifying and dangerous and depressing, so imagination provides us with a sort
of escapism. A source of comfort when reality becomes too much. And imagination
provides us with versatility, as what soothes one person may not do the same
for another. So, we can choose to listen to music that relates to our problems,
or avoid them entirely by reading about a world entirely different to our own,
or even create a whole new work of art ourselves in order to express how we
feel.
imagination in this sense, as I believe we would not be able to cope with the
real world without it. It fuels our dreams and desires and gives us hope of
something better. The real world can be wonderful, but it can also be
terrifying and dangerous and depressing, so imagination provides us with a sort
of escapism. A source of comfort when reality becomes too much. And imagination
provides us with versatility, as what soothes one person may not do the same
for another. So, we can choose to listen to music that relates to our problems,
or avoid them entirely by reading about a world entirely different to our own,
or even create a whole new work of art ourselves in order to express how we
feel.
Story-telling is one of my favourite ways
to use my imagination, whether it be through the stories found in books, films
and TV shows, my own attempts at writing, or simply allowing myself to
day-dream. Stories come in all these different shapes and forms, but they are
something that all of humanity has in common. Words woven together to create
new lives. They allow us to experience things we cannot in the real world;
daring adventures, epic romances, journeys into the unknown. We connect with
the lives of characters, in ways we may not expect, as even the most bizarre
and unusual of creatures as come from a human mind.
to use my imagination, whether it be through the stories found in books, films
and TV shows, my own attempts at writing, or simply allowing myself to
day-dream. Stories come in all these different shapes and forms, but they are
something that all of humanity has in common. Words woven together to create
new lives. They allow us to experience things we cannot in the real world;
daring adventures, epic romances, journeys into the unknown. We connect with
the lives of characters, in ways we may not expect, as even the most bizarre
and unusual of creatures as come from a human mind.
Imagination has kept me sane and even
happy for years, helped me survive the real world. Music speaks to every
emotion I’ve ever felt, expressing for me when I cannot. Paintings and drawings
remind me of the beauty of life. And stories are my escapism, characters my
best friends. So many amazing things have sprung up from people’s minds and
inspired my own. And I cannot wait to see what new wonders the world comes up
with next.
happy for years, helped me survive the real world. Music speaks to every
emotion I’ve ever felt, expressing for me when I cannot. Paintings and drawings
remind me of the beauty of life. And stories are my escapism, characters my
best friends. So many amazing things have sprung up from people’s minds and
inspired my own. And I cannot wait to see what new wonders the world comes up
with next.
