Jan Matejko’s 1862 painting Stańczyk offers an exploration of what it means to have high functioning depression. In solitary the figure of a jester. Traditionally it symbolise a person of high spirits, charming, or witty. Jesters are expected to entertain, to lighten the mood. However, Matejko unsettles this expectation by portraying Stańczyk in a moment […]
Optimism is a poem by E.C. Belli from her debut collection of poems, Objects of Hunger. True to its title, the poem is about optimism, but not in an obvious sense. The poem speaks of a ‘rust’ morning and how the ‘incompetent’ heart speaks the language of ‘stones’. In this selection of words, one senses […]
From the moment it begins—with its weaving echoes and the ritualistic rhythm of a beating drum—Goodbye draws the listener into its hypnotic, otherworldly pull. The song is from the album The Devil’s Walk by German electronic artist Apparat’s Sascha Ring. Featured in films and commercials (notably in the television series Breaking Bad’s season four finale), […]
Cosmia is a song by Joanna Newsom that touches on the themes of grief and lightness. The song title comes from the scientific term for a particular genus of wasp that is attracted to light. Inspired by the death of a close friend, Newsom reflects on the despair this loss brings. Her haunting lyrics symbolize […]
From Brisbane, Australia, self-taught artist Glenn Brady mesmerizes viewers with his dark and eerie paintings. Turning Blue is no exception. Brady uses blueish hues to portray a person who appears melancholic. In an interview with the Trauma and Mental Health Report, Brady explained: “Turning Blue is an artistic depiction of ‘the blues’. Similar to any illness, […]