Does art with a sad tone affect us more?
Melancholy
The melancholy that flows from many outstanding works of art is not accidental. We might even go so far as to say that it is the beauty of pain. Many of us have probably soaked our sorrows in sad songs, wiped away streams of tears at moving films or felt touched by some photograph, painting or perhaps even a poem or book. Human creativity is a process of expression, of shedding one's emotions and sending a message further afield. For some reason, though, we are more likely to remember the sadder things - perhaps the reason is the strong emotions that are evoked in us? I would even dare to go so far as to say that melancholy or nostalgia are stronger emotions and deeper to remember than euphoria or joy. You may wonder - why is this so and not so? This is a pure hypothesis of mine, but I will confess that from self-reflection I have noticed a certain convergence. During feelings of joy or euphoria, gratitude, one also feels beautiful and deep emotions - but for some reason, they are present. We live these feelings in the moment, we feel them here and now. When it comes to melancholy, sadness or even deep nostalgia, it is often linked to the past or the future. These are emotions that are stored in the brain for a longer time in the form of memories, because they do indeed “hurt”. But why do they hurt so much?
For reasons unknown to me, and probably to you, people are relatively nostalgic about memories. This evokes different reactions on a scale from gratitude to tears of longing. Nevertheless, ask yourself, without looking at the frequency of the states in question in your life - which do you remember enough to feel them again? The happy ones or the unpleasant ones? In my case, I remember more the less comfortable emotions, not necessarily full of pain, but simply the weaker, sadder ones. When I recall these moments, I can immediately identify with them again, feel them from the past or even the future. With happy emotions I don't have that - although I also feel them deeply and am immensely grateful for them, they only remain so strong in the present moment. And that's the beauty of them - that you only feel them once so portentously and powerfully.
In the creative world, we can also see that most works revolve around love, especially broken hearts and the wounds caused by it. People eagerly consume such content. Sometimes even unconsciously, on ‘autopilot’. Whenever a catchy melody, not necessarily melancholic, turns out to be a song dedicated to old memories. How much can we empathise with the lyrics and melody when a particular song resonates with us? Let us note that we usually listen to music that appeals to us on some level, allows us to feel something - and melancholic lyrics or sounds prove to be a balm for many of us.
Nostalgia
Nostalgia is not necessarily something bad, unpleasant or hurtful. Categorising it as a ‘negative’ feeling can be unfair, but longing for memories is a kind of digging into one's own mind, heart – one's inner self. It is not an entirely pleasant process, even if the memories we unearth are pleasant. Nostalgia is a case where it is not really clear how to perceive it – each time it can be a different reaction to memories – depending on what comes to our mind from our heart. For example, when I recall pleasant moments with friends with whom I am no longer in contact, they may hurt me more with longing – this is a different reaction than to memories of a friend with whom I am still in contact today. The same applies to many other aspects of our lives. Nothing is composed solely in black and white. Between these two extremes, we have a whole spectrum of greys, not to mention if we added a palette of colours. Nostalgia is a beautiful feeling, but at the same time it can be hurtful. However, is the pain and harm we experience on an emotional level really that bad? It's like defining sadness as something bad, especially crying, which it isn't. These are negative emotions, but crying, which is usually associated with sadness, can also be caused by happiness or other emotions. Crying, like nostalgia, is neutral, yet full of many scenarios. And perhaps that is where their beauty lies? The lack of definition of good and bad? Positive and negative?
Things that evoke strong emotions in us are the ones that stick in our memory the most. This is often the case with so-called ‘triggers’. To illustrate this in terms of art, I would like to share a personal story. While visiting the National Museum in Warsaw, I did not realise that I would have the opportunity to see one of my favourite paintings by Polish artists. When I saw it, I almost cried. It was a powerful emotional experience for me. The painting I am referring to is ‘Children in the Garden’ by Władysław Podkowiński. This painting reminds me very much of my childhood. I have a great fondness for it and it evokes many memories of my childhood, as well as the part of it that I do not have. It is a mixture of “positive” and ‘negative’ emotions. Nevertheless, this painting causes me the most painful longing. For something that was and something that I did not fully experience. This is one of the examples I have experienced. I stared at this painting for a good 10 minutes before moving on. However, it stayed in my head the whole time.
The image itself is not shrouded in sadness - it certainly does not look like it - yet my own interpretation and self-reflection cause it to bring me a beautiful pain.
Therefore, I would go so far as to say that our own interpretation of a work of art, regardless of the field of art, can evoke both stimuli in us. What is cheerful or neutral can evoke both joyful and sad emotions and feelings in us. Nevertheless, it is rare for creative works filled with visible pain to cause happiness. Looking at it from this perspective, we see that the feeling of sadness is more widespread in the realm of art.
Attachment to memories
People often experience sudden flashes of memories in their everyday lives. It is a natural part of all of us. Nevertheless, some of us have a strong tendency to become deeply attached to memories. I am sure that many of us, in addition to returning to memories associated with certain songs and works, are also able to identify with the lyrics and message, as well as add people from our own lives and situations to those songs. These are interesting phenomena. We can assign a song to a specific person, e.g. someone who hurt us, and when we listen to that song years later, we continue to return to that person in our memories. This may be due to identifying with the lyrics, the situation presented, or simply shared moments. Personally, I also have songs, places and artists that I associate with specific people or situations. Sometimes, when I want to return to those times, I look at certain images, listen to music or watch a film that allows me to ‘travel back in time’. Because that's how art works – it allows us to go back to places that no longer exist.
Works like portals that transport you through time
In art, we can see many references to history. Using many mediums, we create history with something immortal. They allow us to explore emotions or feelings that took place long ago. By viewing paintings in museums, listening to old songs or reading old books and poetry, we allow ourselves to learn about other people's stories that may resonate with us. In these categories, we also find ourselves more quickly in feeling these sadder emotions, and perhaps even heavier ones? Just as it is said that it is these difficult memories that shape and teach us, perhaps there is a bottomless longing in the experience of art? People think a lot, we spend a lot of time in our own heads. The reflections we have during such an experience also remain in our memory - we can even become addicted to them.
Can one become addicted to experiencing sad art?
Yes, absolutely. There are people who constantly listen to songs related to their past. They watch films that someone from their past recommended to them, or touch on topics that they themselves have experienced – the same applies to books and other works of art. Sad tones in art are nothing new to us, but the extent to which people are melancholic is downright dangerous to our health and our experience of life. I have noticed many extremes these days in what we consume in art. It is difficult for us to find a balance. Nevertheless, I understand in a way those who prefer fully melancholic or nostalgic works of art. They allow us to feel deeply and strongly. They stir something in us that may have been hidden for years. I myself am a fan of such art, even though I am a rather euphoric person on a daily basis. I simply love to feel, experience and learn about myself and the world around me.
And you? Does art with a sad tone have a stronger impact on you?
