As I was choosing the first work of art I would write about, I told myself I should pick one that truly represents me, one that speaks to me. The first one that came to my mind is the TV series One Tree Hill which I have watched more times than I can count. However, it took me a moment of reflection to find how I would make the series fit into an art blog. After all, at first glance, One Tree Hill does look a lot like any of those other American TV shows from the 00’s that revolve around the life of entitled teenagers and their first-world problems.
But the more I thought about it, the more it became obvious to me that art is a crucial part of this show. Every character practices a different form of art at some point in the series, whether it be writing, singing, designing, broadcasting, drawing, or many more, and in every case, it is cathartic, and it is what makes them grow. Their art helps them define who they are, as well as who they want to be. The viewers can often witness the characters encouraging each others to push through with their art, which only sheds more light on the importance of art in one’s life. For most characters, their art even becomes their main source of income.
In addition, almost every episode is named after a song or a band, whether it be a song by The Cure like episode 2 of season 3 entitled “From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea” or a song by Sheryl Crow like the episode entitled “I Shall Believe”, or a song by any artist really.
If you are not yet convinced of the great place art has in One Tree Hill, let me tell you about the narration of the episodes. Either in the beginning or in the end of of a good number of them, Lucas, one of the main characters, assures the narration by reading a quote from a famous author. Ralph W. Emerson, Tennessee Williams, Henry David Thoreau, John Steinbeck, William Blake, and many more are quoted. Oh, and I should probably mention that Lucas plays basketball with The Ravens, and *SPOILER ALERT* he publishes a novel that he entitles An Unkindness of Ravens, which is, if you ask me, clearly in honor of “The Raven” by Edgar Allan Poe.
I don’t know for you, but all this information makes me feel much less guilty to love what looks like any other teenage show so much. And I must end this post with the most recurring quote from the series: “Your art matters. It’s what got me here.”
-Pénélope Simard
Peas and Jelly 