Ethan Hawke’s intimate Ted Talk, “Give yourself permission to be creative”, was recorded during the Pandemic and recently recirculated after a clip from the talk– when Hawke speaks about the power of “art as sustenance”– went viral.
In this talk– which deals largely with the idea that creativity is not a privilege, but a right– Hawke traces the arc of his own career in the Arts with anecdotes from his personal life, to animate why it is that he felt compelled to get into a line of creative work. He talks about how courageous expression promotes healing and connection with one another.
In so doing, he builds a beautiful case for why we all should understand the importance of art and creativity, and how it shapes and gives meaning to our lives, regardless of whether we make a profession from it.
Ultimately, he also articulates why it is that art has always been a salve for trying times, when works of inspiration can steady our hearts and minds and ground us with feelings of hope and magnanimity for the human experience. It’s an existential idea, but also heartwarmingly human and worth considering as you go about your daily life.
If you’re a creative spirit and you need a mental health pick-me-up, this talk is for you.
Watch the full video, below. (The moment where he talks about art as sustenance begins at the 1:50 mark. It’s beautiful!)
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