2020 Hindsight
They say that there is a light at the end of the tunnel, but you still have to make a voyage through the darkness. We never hear how long that tunnel is and what challenges you face when you’re in there. Many of us are still in the tunnel and we continue on a difficult journey. But it’s is necessary to continue moving ahead to think about where we started this year and what it means for creativity.
I started the year 2020 with great optimism. I was working a great job at a video game publisher, I was planning a comic convention with some of the most talented creators in the business and things were going great. I had so much to look forward to, but then we entered the quarantine. We were used to seeing the light, but now we were taking our first steps into the tunnel and had our first glimpse of darkness.
As COVID-19 numbers grew, we found ourselves stuck at home to preserve ourselves and others’ safety. But as numbers grew, so did panic as people frantically snapped up supplies and toilet paper off the shelves. At first, we had some good jokes about the situation, but things took a darker turn around the tunnel. I was looking forward to debuting many new video game projects but suddenly found myself out of a job when the quarantine canceled our promotional events. This news hurt me, but I ultimately understood that cutting off a finger to save the hand. Others had the luxury of working from home, but many of us remain stuck in the dark.
As the quarantine continued, we hoped it would only be days, turned to weeks, into months and went nearly a year. All of this time just seems to mold together when you wake up at noon, play Animal Crossing all day and scroll endlessly through your newsfeed for some piece of hope. Many people became depressed because they spend all of their time reading comics, playing video games and marathoning Netflix shows. But I find it hard to believe that anyone could feel guilty for doing their part to keep others safe while enjoying so much creativity.
There is no shame in a little bit of escapism while the world returns fights a deadly pandemic. Pain is inevitable, suffering is optional, but boredom is preventable with a good story. The days cooped up inside are challenging, but the work we enjoy from talented creators makes it much better. I have found joy catching up on my reading.
Through Creators Assemble, I have a new family of people who care about the artists who create this remarkable work. It is reassuring to hear stories from creators and knowing that we are not the only ones who struggle to reach our goals. Many of them have had the rug pulled out from underneath them, lost dream jobs but still got up, went back to creating artwork, stories and inspiring others.
Times are tough, but that doesn’t mean you need to wallow in the darkness. There is a light at the end of the tunnel and you can enjoy a distraction while you are on the ride. We have all made it this far because we appreciate all of this beautiful work and the people who brought it together. Until we see the light, we can’t assemble, but in the darkness, we can still create.
- Matt Dunford, Creators Assemble! Member at Large