The Good Lie

"We all know that art is not truth.  Art is a lie that makes us realize the truth, at least the truth that is given to us to understand."

~Pablo Picasso

Erin Sullivan: "Having all read Huckleberry Finn, can anyone tell me what the good lie means?"
Female Student: "Huck uses lies to survive in undesirable situations."
Erin Sullivan: "Exactly. But later in the book, the lies change. How so?"
Mamere: "They change because Huck changes."
Erin Sullivan: "Yes, keep going."
Mamere: "When he tells the slave hunters that he has no slaves, his lie is credible so he lies well but what is more important is that it's an unselfish lie because it saves Jim. Jim's freedom means more to Huck than the money he would get from turning him in. So it is a good lie."

~From the movie The Good Lie

You know how sometimes it seems that you find a theme, a common thread, that runs through your life and you wonder if the universe, or God, is trying to tell you something?  I had one of those experiences this weekend and it had to do with lies.

I had the opportunity to watch the movie The Good Lie, which, by the way, every human being should watch, and I was struck by a conversation the characters had in the movie.  You can read the above quote and know which one I am referring to.  The idea of a "good lie" struck me as an oxymoron of sorts...is it ever a good thing to lie, even when it seems that it may be the best choice?  It seems there are circumstances when lying would be acceptable, although I think it is quite a risky tightrope, slippery slope, as it were, to walk.  I suppose I would be willing to lie my butt off if it were to save the life of another.

Later that day, I was finishing the book The Longest Ride by Nicholas Sparks when I came across the above quote by Pablo Picasso.  It jumped out at me because it too was about a lie.  It got me thinking. I am not sure that I agree that art is a lie per say...I believe art is a visual representation of something the artist is feeling or thinking.  Is that a lie?  Not in my opinion, but then again, I am no Piccaso either.  :)

This piece was inspired by the movie The Good Lie, in honor of all the Sudanese "Lost Boys", that were separated from their families and villages during the Civil War in Sudan.  Many of them, tens of thousands I believe, immigrated to the United States in 2000 after having to walk thousands of miles across Africa to seek safety in refugee camps and then staying in the camps for years and years.  It is a heartbreaking movie as well as an uplifting one.  Everyone should see it.  In contrast, the Nicholas Sparks book was not so great.  It was easy to read, but it was predictable and disconnected, in my opinion.  I feel like that author is now a Hollywood sellout and writes to "make movies" instead of concentrating on good story telling.  So, don't waste your time on the book...go see the movie coming out on April 10th instead...it's quicker.

Have a wonderful Monday, y'all!