Over the years, one of the main focuses of the Humanities has been
the “struggles” of many of the historical figures and all that they had
to go through to become the giants that they were destined to be. Some
of these figures suffered from mental illness, depression, and drug
addiction. They had to overcome a number of obstacles. Overall, they
suffered as they created the art that we have come to know and love.
Some of those figures include, Vincent van Gogh, Emily Dickinson, Oscar
Wilde, Virginia Woolf, Ray Charles, and Elvis Presley. In addition to
struggling with their personal demons, some of these artists were only
recognized posthumously (after their deaths).
Many would argue that today’s artists, entertainers, and writers have
to face few struggles, if any. Today’s entertainers became overnight
sensations because of vehicles like YouTube and shows like The Voice and American Idol.
Instead of spending years as a “starving artist,” one million views on
YouTube can catapult a virtual unknown person into the spotlight. Once a
video goes viral on the Internet, life for the featured “star” of that
video will forever be changed.
In light of today’s technology, is there such a thing as a “struggle” anymore? Explain your reasoning by giving examples.
