How to slow down time by seeking out the spectacular
In short: As we age, months and weeks often seem to accelerate, slipping away before we can truly register them. But there is a way to plant mental signposts in your days. By seeking out the weird, the wild, and the unexpected, you can transform ordinary moments into lasting memories.
The sensation of time speeding up is a common human experience; as Chris Duffy notes, the transition from summer to New Year's Eve can feel almost instantaneous. To combat this, one method is traveling to new places, which provides a density of new experiences. However, a more joyful approach involves seeking out 'spectacle'—those unusual, notable, or entertaining events that break the monotony of daily life.
Spectacle does not require a professional stage or a massive budget. It can be found in spontaneous moments, such as joining an unplanned parade or participating in a DIY relay race organized by friends. It also exists in community gatherings like farmers' markets, art shows, library readings, or musical performances. These moments act as mental signposts, making a day feel fuller and more memorable.
Award-winning theater director Lear deBessonet argues that spectacle is a powerful tool for community connection. Growing up, she witnessed pageantry in various forms, from the shared voices of church choirs to the massive, earth-shaking energy of LSU football games, where the crowd and marching band were powerful enough to register on the Richter Scale. For deBessonet, these events are more than mere entertainment; they are profound moments where communities unite within the realm of the imagination.
Crucially, deBessonet seeks to dismantle the idea that art and spectacle are reserved solely for professionals who earn their living through them. She advocates for finding the extraordinary within the everyday, suggesting that the boundary between the 'professional artist' and the 'everyday person' is an unnecessary separation that prevents us from finding creativity in our regular lives.
Opens the Intellect+ feed with this card first. Swipe up for the next one.
Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: How to Be a Better Human: Why you should make a spectacle out of life (w/ Lear deBessonet)
- Also: Why you should make a spectacle out of life (w/ Lear deBessonet) (Transcript)
To cite this card, link to https://intellectplus.co.uk/app/art-why-you-should-make-a-spectacle-out-of-life-w-lear-debessone.
How we source, check and correct cards: Editorial standards.
General information, not professional advice. Spotted an error? Flag the card or see corrections and complaints.
Intellect Plus is a visual educational discovery platform for exploring fascinating facts and ideas. Brain Food, Not Brain Rot. What is Intellect Plus?
Related
More in Art · Latest · A–Z · All topics
