Why you should pay attention to beautiful things | John Luna | TEDxBrentwoodCollegeSchool

The Importance of Visual Engagement and Beauty

• The speaker, a visual artist, emphasizes the importance of visual engagement and beauty in their life.
• They discuss John Keats' poem "Ode on a Grecian Urn" and its exploration of beauty and truth.
• The speaker reflects on their own journey as an artist and the challenges of capturing beauty in art.

Identity and Crisis

• The speaker highlights the difference between knowing one's identity and truly feeling like that identity.
• They introduce the concept of "crisis" as a moment when things are not enough and the unconscious sends messages of need and concern.
• They discuss Carl Jung's definition of the midlife crisis and the diminishing possibilities that come with age.
• The speaker also mentions the identity crisis that occurs during adolescence and the struggle to process the beauty of childhood while facing the challenges of teenage years.

Beauty and Youth

• Beauty is often tied to shame, embarrassment, and self-consciousness, especially among young people.
• Young people are often in a state of crisis, and it's important to acknowledge and support them during these times.
• Beauty and youth are often misunderstood and criticized, but they are essential to the creative process.

The Role of Art

• Art can provide a space for people to explore their emotions and experiences, and it can help them to find meaning and purpose in life.
• Beauty and art can be found in everyday moments and experiences, and it is important to appreciate and celebrate them.
• Life is short, and it is important to make the most of the time we have by living in the present moment and appreciating the beauty around us.

Examples of Beauty in Art

• David Hammond's African-American flag, which flew for 10 years until it became tattered, was hung in a museum as a sacred artwork in 2017, a significant year in African-American history.
• Sable Elise Smith's two large silk screens are blowups of coloring books found on the pavement of New York City, given to children whose parents are incarcerated while they wait to visit them in prison.
• Koko Fusco rode a boat around Hart Island in 2020 and recited a poem while throwing flowers into the water to honor the dead buried there, including many undocumented individuals, prisoners, homeless people, and those who died from COVID-19.