Art That Overwhelms the Senses
A friend of mine told me a story about a Michelin star restaurant he visited in Europe. Course after course was truly delicious. Then came one dish with flavors so complex and multifaceted that it literally brought him to tears. It made him realize that the highest forms of cuisine could become art.
Awe-inspiring natural structures like mountains and rivers and forests and canyons can bring about a similar wonderful feeling, and climactic events like F-16s flying over as the national anthem is sung live at a sporting event can nearly sweep you off your feet. But it’s rare to be taken by surprise by such overwhelming feelings.
Except with art—something another human crafted as a way of expressing an idea, a feeling, an experience. Sometimes it is a photograph, or a story, or a painting, or perhaps a dish at a restaurant. Occasionally created just for oneself, but more often created so that others can empathize directly with the subject at hand.
My favorite artist, Dominic Fike, just released his new album, HOW TO QUIT SMOKING, and midway through my first listen I felt these same emotions. It wasn’t even the lyrics, just the beauty of the sound itself. I chuckled at myself, involuntarily shedding a tear or two because some guy released some songs on the internet. But I couldn’t have asked for a better quiet moment alone with this piece of art.
What a lovely thing we do as humans, for one another.
I’ve noticed a tendency of many people, especially men, to look down on the ability to become moved by the beauties of life.
I can’t imagine a more empty life than one devoid of moments of such intense emotion that they bring you to tears. It may be the most human thing we do—become captivated by the boundless experience that is life.
As AI creates more and more stuff, some of it surely beautiful, what separates us from AI is the ability to actually feel something in response. Do not willingly relegate yourself to an NPC who is somehow too cool to feel. Feeling might be the coolest thing we can do.