2016 Jun 19
by Vandana Hiranand
The root of every Sri Lankan parent’s pride: the moment their son or daughter decides to be a Doctor, Engineer, Lawyer or Businessman. The whole family is delighted – every aunt and uncle you have ever laid eyes upon will congratulate you, even if they live on the other side of the world. The prestige associated with these jobs will make you the ideal child and future spouse.
On the other hand lies the opposing reaction: the moment their son or daughter expresses the desire to pursue a career in the Arts. This may result in disapproving noises, murmurs and many serious conversations about whether this would be an appropriate choice. Many parents will justify the choice to relatives by saying, ‘Oh, don’t worry. She’s doing CIMA as well, so she’ll have something to fall back on.’
Surprisingly, this skepticism extends to a majority of the young generation as well. Many have uncertainty about any creative careers, leading to a growing cynicism towards anyone they know who is pursuing one. If you have ever mocked or doubted them, just imagine this:
Imagine a world without any artists; a blank, dreary canvas. Imagine a world with no one to produce, direct and write the movies you love. Think of a world with no authors, journalists, dancers or poets – a world with no creative outlet for inner expression. Imagine a place where there aren’t any actors in those movies and shows you watch, because no one ever went to drama school in the first place. Visualize a planet without any photographers, where there is no one to take that candid picture of you and your friends, and nothing to post online. Picture a world without graphic designers, fashion designers, decorators and stylists. And a horrifying world without your favorite musicians and the singers you will never stop listening to.
A black and white world, where no one would want to live.
Our Sri Lankan society has a stubborn mindset about careers, believing only a choice few to be highly reputable. Parents place an enormous pressure on their children to be doctors, engineers or lawyers. Undoubtedly, these paths are great, and many select them because of their own true ambitions. However, even in this day and age, you will find numerous students in big universities and colleges around the country, who simply don’t have the passion for the careers they have chosen. When questioned, they might say it’s because ‘my parents wanted me to’.
The fear of disappointing one’s parents is rather high in our culture. This is coupled with the fact that many teenagers have not explored other avenues or careers, simply because they have always known that their goal in life has been set for them at an early age. The freedom to discover their passion is absent. Alternatively, many young kids know their passion, yet put it in the backburner, not believing that it can fuel their careers.
As ever present in the Sri Lankan culture, is the fear of what society will say. A prominent factor when choosing careers is the knowledge that society will applaud some and cast doubt on others. This arises from the illusion that creative jobs will never pay the bills. Yet, the increasing numbers of doctors and engineers in our country indicates that unemployment rates for such careers may be on the rise soon. In that case, a creative path may be just as risky as a conventional one. As mentioned previously, parents ensure that their children also follow a course such as CIMA or a short diploma, to secure their future. Having a safety net is never a bad thing, of course. Yet, this simply highlights the low level of confidence placed in the Arts and the possibility of success in these fields.
The future creative thinkers need to know that achieving their dreams is as realistic as any others. If you have a passion and a goal, work hard towards achieving it. Have the confidence rather than fear, to stand up for what you want to do. Don’t follow a path you have no interest in.
And if you are still extremely skeptic about creative careers, then know this: all people in creative industries have worked and studied hard to achieve their goals. Many have struggled without support, while ignoring the skepticism of those around them. If someone from the future generation of creative thinkers gives up on their dreams because of the negativity around them, the world will get one shade darker and one step closer to being black, white and dismal.
Don’t be the person who discourages, be one who inspires.
