I find myself circling the thought that art, in its true essence, is about creating a shift, a journey of perspectives for its audience. It's about taking someone from their current view at point A, to a radically different, or just somewhat altered view at point B. The worthiness of this creation, this piece of art or content, hinges on its capacity to instigate such a shift, which I like to refer to as 'transportation'.
But not just any transportation. It's about how this shift aligns with leading us towards a Golden Age for humanity. If the change in perspective is nudging us closer to that ideal, then that's art worth creating. A high 'transportation score' I would say, is the term that encapsulates this idea.
There are countless examples of works that I believe score high on this transportation scale. The documentaries "What The Health" and "Seaspiracy" opened eyes to the perils of the meat and seafood industry, respectively. Then there's Kanye West's album "Jesus is King", which was a catalyst for me personally to delve deeper into spirituality, and ponder the possibility of the existence of God. It made me reassess and expand my worldview.
Contrarily, I feel a lot of Marvel movies, while entertaining, may not have a high transportation score. They often reinforce existing viewpoints, instead of encouraging fresh perspectives.
I also have to acknowledge that I've created content which, in retrospect, may not have had a substantial impact in terms of 'transportation'. I have preached to the choir more times than I have contributed unique insights that lead to transportation.
One piece of content that did have a high transportation score was "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine, a pamphlet that profoundly influenced the American Revolution. If one believes that the creation of the United States is crucial for humanity's golden age, then this piece embodies art that transports.
Now, I'm looking at a project my friend Marcus is working on - a documentary called "Color of Wealth" - aimed at increasing awareness about the racial wealth gap. It's a topic that's been explored extensively. Yet, he’s aspiring to present it in a way that genuinely changes minds and hearts, and most importantly, inspires action.
This, to me, embodies the real goal of art—to effect genuine, meaningful change in perspectives. Creating a new understanding, a shift in how we perceive our reality—that's what makes art worth making.
The Golden Age for humanity is not just a single destination, but a multitude of shifting viewpoints and understanding. And art, I believe, is a powerful vehicle for that journey.
Other notable examples of people who produced content or art that transported millions to a different mental place:
- Karl Marx, with his Communist Manifesto
- Martin Luther, with his 95 Theses
- Barack Obama, with his Dreams of My Father
- Kate Raworth, with her Donut Economics
- Ron Paul, with his many books on why the U.S. must #EndTheFed
- Jordan Peterson, with his several popular lecture series on psychology, God, and more
- Andrew Tate, with his short clips that went viral everywhere on TikTok and YouTube
- Greta Thunberg, with her Fridays for the Future protests
- RFK Jr, with his 2024 Presidential Run