I’m a big fan of cheap theatrics, except when they’re being used to manipulate the innocent for nefarious purposes. Take, for example, the “rainforest” fakery of grocery stores that play a musical little mini thunderstorm soundtrack for a second before spritzing their produce bins with a fine mist of “freshening” water to impress us all with how natural and pristine their dew-flecked delectables are. Always hoping that we will be pleasantly enough diverted by this charming display to ignore the general reality: that we are being annoyingly dampened whilst attempting to retrieve our groceries in an ostensibly sheltered indoor space. That the soundtrack is remarkably similar to that White Noise one we play to put us in a somnolent state in the comfort of our own boudoirs, and could reasonably, therefore, fall under suspicion of attempted brainwashing more than vegetable-washing (no one need comment here on how much the two may be assumed to resemble each other by our grocery-vending overlords). That adding moisture to vegetation that has been removed from its growing environment speeds its decay and makes it more vulnerable to contamination of many wonderfully creepy kinds. That the ensuing waste of live produce drives up the cost of said produce almost as much as does the production and installation of the whole set-piece that put the drama in motion in the first place.
And we complain about the price of the Real Deal in the farmers’ market.
On the other hand, as a flaming fan of fantasy, I have to show my appreciation for the sincerely phony. You know: art for Fun’s sake. Silliness. Over-the-top drama on the stage and on the page, to drench the theatre or the reading room with tears and terror. Wildly, extravagantly gorgeous embroideries and carvings and photos and engravings and pastels and bronzes and encaustics that make no pretense of being journalistic but want only to transport us to their own extraordinary alternate worlds. This is the stuff that dreams are made on, and from which new dreams are made. Because it expresses our true selves in ways that no other thing can: art.
There are many lost or neglected skills and crafts in the wonderful world of art, and many yet to be discovered. The universe is awash in potential song, image, and dance, and the invitation is out: come and play! Write a play! Bring on the new opera, the marvels of a magical aquatint, a novel, a scintillating sweep of tapestry, a ballet, a symphony–or maybe it’s time to revisit some longtime form and bring a new perspective to this fabulous world of ours by opening new vistas into yet another set of worlds. Write a love letter to creativity that you’ve never written before, and all the rest of us are here waiting to share the love. After all, there is something deeply inviting about fiction and fun for their very own sakes.
Art-Colored Glasses 
When I read ‘cheap theatrics’ I was thinking of a Punch and Judy puppet show (no longer PC I know) rather that supermarket shenaigans. I have never tried to write fiction, I am not sure I would know where to begin, maybe with that letter to creativity.
Heh, heh, Punch and Judy would be a pretty good metaphor for how marketing shenanigans in general affect me! Silly and crude distraction tactics and then a good whack on the noggin when I’m not looking.
‘Comedy is Hard’ reminds me of a quote that used to hang in the Theater Department at Cameron University:
“Writing (acting) is easy. You just sit down at the typewriter (step on the stage), and open a vein.”
I love everything about this post!
Of course I stole it from the old “Dying is easy–comedy is hard” tale (http://quoteinvestigator.com/2010/10/26/comedy-is-hard/), and yes, I’ve heard variations on the one you saw posted too. All true! I’m glad you enjoyed.
Lovely, lovely writing that makes me want to dance, sing, and write.
Good! I’ll be watching! 🙂
Good piece AND i completely agree about spraying icky water on dying vegetables! c
Now, if I could spray some of the same water on certain grocery store execs . . . 😉
Dear Kathryn, I have nominated your blog for The Versatile Blogger Award. Your blog has really been an inspiration. If you visit the link you can find the details.
You are too kind! Hjertelig tusen takk! I take it as high praise indeed from someone whose work I so admire. I will indeed visit the link not only to follow up but especially to (a) revisit your blog–I do enjoy it immensely–and (b) familiarize myself with the other blogs you introduce!
Yes, I have often been dampened by jets of water firing at me while I reach for a bunch of shallots or similar. All part of the grocery store experience!
Bad enough that these grocers think their produce needs rinsing, but that it’s okay to rinse *us* too???
Hilarious that there is a sound of a mini thunderstorm! I agree with all of the above…and would add that music in a clothing store seems to make me want to spend, spend, spend! Ilook forward to more of your splendid drawings and remarks xoxo Smidge
. . . and don’t get me started about those cinnamon perfumes piped around the mall walkways, and the dim romantic lighting used in less than stellar eateries and dodgy clothiers’ dressing-rooms alike . . .
xoxo right back!
Kathryn
Haven’t seen this in Australia yet (the water spray) but it’s only a matter of time as we slavishly follow the US. Speaking of art, I went to an art gallery the other day and one of the exhibits taking up a small room consisted of two bricks (strategically placed) and three helium filled balloons attached to the bricks. By the way I think your art is great.
Thank you for the kind compliment! Sorry I haven’t provided anything as exotic as brick-and-helium art yet, but I’ll keep a-trying. And twice as sorry for anything my countrymen may have perpetrated upon innocent Aussies in the way of tacky marketing, but then we as a nation are nothing if not magnificent purveyors of tackiness around the world!
lovely piece of art!
Thank you kindly, Georgie! I’m so enjoying your work, too, now that we’ve been introduced.
All best!
Kathryn