Will it be safe to say all of us, at least at one point in our lives, thought of going into an alternate reality?
Simply putting it, I have on multiple occasions and the thoughts somehow are becoming recurring the
older I get. This alternate reality is anything that we emotionally and intellectually relate to and lack in
the present.
The alternate reality is a colloquial explanation of the term escapism. It is a tendency when people wish
to stray away from reality into a place where they think they are safe and happy. This tendency often
goes toward a negative spectrum because people become addicted to toxic things like, spending all day
in front of screens, watching violent content, dealing in alcohol and drugs, completely denying the
reality and such. There are things on a positive spectrum as well like, writing, drawing, working out and
such that are means for escapism.
I think there is enough content discussing the negative spectrum of escapism, I would like to look into
the positive spectrum. The things under the positive spectrum fall under the tag of ‘art’. A painter paints
away their disdain from the reality and does so on a daily basis. A writer writes the woes of the present
only to engulf themselves with the fantastical elements of their words. A musician composes day and
night only to fight away the daunting truth surrounding their real life. Art is henceforth not a mere
passage of time, it is the only source by which some people hang on to their version that is differing
from the painful reality and engaging in it gives them a relief so sweet that makes takes them a step
further away from the reality. There are passive art escapers who enjoy shows that makes them believe
in things they have otherwise repressed deep inside them. A person holds on to their dream of
becoming a professional make-up artist by secretly learning it through the videos online. An audience
member from the ballet performance wishes they were allowed to learn the dance, however amidst
their sadness also comes joy from watching the performance. After a tired day, watching cooking shows
all by themselves gives them more joy than hanging out with the gang around the bleachers of a game.
Art thus not only saves the ones directly involved in making it, but also caters to hundreds of others
watching it being made or the final product. These individuals go back to their reality in a better state
after actively or passively being engaged. Imagine the breakthroughs these people would have if only
they were to not use art as escapism and in hiding it but as their overt passion?
Escapism inherently is bad. It’s in the very name right? Escaping reality to delve into the mysteries of our
minds. Art helps us look at it with optimism. Yes, art is escapism. There is art therapy intended to do this
exact thing more concretely and systematically. So maybe, we change the definition of escapism all
together? Like, temporarily letting minds flow to the greatest extent by doing what it craves the most.
On the other hand, we can just let people be and allow them to accept themselves wholeheartedly so
whatever they do, would not be any form of escapism. It would become their reality.
