I think the message it wants to send is the importance of art even in times of ruin: it brings the symphony together through Shakespeare and bridges Arthur’s story with Kristen’s. But the comic, although it connects both Kristen and Tyler, ultimately has a dividing affect between them. What Tyler gets out of the story turns him into a cult leader and this is a significant part of the story, so clearly art is not the necessity that unites humans. If so, what was Mandel trying to say?
by GlassAlert
2 Comments
She was following the trend of YA dystopian novels along with the familiar plot of Stephen King’s The Stand. It really isn’t a deep or well thought out story.
It’s been a while since I read it, so forgive me if this is missing details. I think you’re mostly right, except I think her message is different than just the importance of art, but rather that art and stories are the things people need at a most basic level. When society and the artificial value we put on _things_ goes away, stories are still something we can trade and use to make a connection.
It’s not that art is so great because of some moral virtue, it’s that art connects us to our humanity and is the way we can bridge the gap between different worldviews. It is also something we can leave behind that is more meaningful than how much money we made or how big our house was. Art, and stories especially, can keep having an impact on the ideas and thoughts of others long after you’re gone. (For good or bad.)