Joy Is a Radical Act

Joy Is a Radical Act

Sep 4, 2020 By Benjamin Freed | Commentary | Ki Tavo

β€œArt is a radical act. Joy is a radical act.”
β€”Rebecca Makkai, The World’s on Fire. Can We Still Talk ΊΪΑΟΙη Books?

A few weeks ago, my fiancΓ©e and I re-watched the Disney/Pixar movie Inside Out, where anthropomorphized emotions work together and compete to control the feelings and actions of an 11-year-old named Riley. One of the primary lessons is that unchecked β€œJoy” cannot by itself bring true happiness or properly prepare us for handling life’s more difficult moments. Sadness, Anger, Fear, and Disgust all play a role in making us who we are, and we ignore those emotions at our own risk. As someone who strongly identifies with Amy Poehler’s peppy and unrelentingly optimistic β€œJoy” character, this message is both sobering and powerful.

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