When I was younger, I was often told about how inherently creative I was and how I had a natural gift when it came to creative tasks. Although I didn’t really see it at the time, I can understand now how it may have come more easily to me than others. I wouldn’t classify it as something I was born with, but I would say it is a skill that I worked on starting from a young age. That being said, after my years in university, I felt my creative touch to be slipping.
After years of producing academic written works and focusing primarily on my studies, I was at a loss for how to regain my creative writing abilities that I had forgotten. However, there are many ideas that have taken root in my mind to assist me in these creative tasks. I want to highlight one today that has guided me throughout the past few years as I’ve tried to get back into my creative grind.
To put it simply, I spent time in art. I went to art museums, looked up historical movements in art history and literature, and went back to some of the classics. I began to analyze everything around me from the perspective of an art seeker. In doing so, I stumbled upon the concept of Gesamtkunst.
Its full form is Gesamtkunstwerk, and it is compiled of three words that are most literally translated to “total work of art”. The concept refers to pieces of art that use a variety of modes to create a work of art that is not simply music or painting, but an immersive experience.
I, however, do not necessarily adhere to this definition when it comes to my own writing process. I use the concept of Gesamtkunst to help inspire me. When I go to an art museum and sit down in front of a painting, I want to understand what the artist was thinking, the emotions they felt and wanted me to feel. When I listen to music, I pay attention to how the lyrics match the melody to go beyond simply tunes to an emotional journey. I take these experiences and put them together to inspire my own creativity. Poetry and prose are only two forms of art that can be used as inspiration, and there is a world of inspiration out there.
When I watch a movie and feel a pull to a certain character, I take note of it in my writing journal and think about how I can do something similar in my stories. Walking past an older building, decayed and crumbling, I consider the design and function of the historical place. Then I wonder what stories may come from it. Stories are all around us, and I am constantly putting down these incoming thoughts to my journal. Some will be used in my writing, others will simply remain on the pages as a testament to my observations.
Writing and creativity do not exist in a vacuum but instead are forged through the lived experiences of humanity. This is what I use to fuel my writing, and these ideas have been fundamental for me as I slowly strengthen my writing muscles. It may take time to be as good as I would like to be, but I feel comforted by my consideration of Gesamtkunst.
Wiederhold Writes 