The Interconnectedness of Life and Art

“When we are faced with destruction, idealism becomes the only practicality.”
- Leroy Pelton, The Psychology of Nonviolence

Gandhi, when discussing Hindu scripture stated “God alone is, and nothing else exists.” This poses an interesting question; what if we are all connected as one, manifestations of a supreme will, and understanding and reconciling those differences between ourselves as individuals, is the realization of the divine in all of us? As the global community gets smaller, the need for multicultural understanding becomes greater if we are to preserve and create peace and understanding for ourselves and future generations. This is best done not by drawing lines between the cultures of different peoples, but by celebrating that these differences are expressions of the same human condition, manifest from the same consciousness. This personalizes the affect that our cultures have on each other, as well as increasing our understanding of interconnectedness. 

First I will discuss the differences between uniqueness and interconnectedness as two states of being, and how interconnectedness promotes peace and understanding. Then I will discuss how the experience of live performance generates interconnectedness through the communal experience. Finally using examples found in readings, personal experience drawn from a career in professional acting, and the experiences at the 2005 Gandhi conference, I will show how expressions of live performance and art can be used to promote multicultural understanding, social change, and interconnectedness.