Are there muses among us?
Muses live among us, we just need to see them
“A muse can be a mirror: a reflection of the artist’s desires, anxieties, dreams and needs.” — Vince Aletti
Muses have been a mainstay of literary narratives for millennia, more often associated with the ideals of femininity, particularly in the western tradition, though not so much in African tradition, with characters like the Anansi spider and the wandering griot, who are often seen as male — one a trickster and the other a leader who provided guidance, via the art of storytelling. However, as society evolves, it has become clear that muses are not just people, but they also geographic locations, environments, objects, and experiences that evoke inspiration in those of us who behold them.
In recent years we also think of muses also as activities manifested in such things as TedTalks, Masterclasses and also perhaps YouTube influencer, that are central to our modern day western life imparting their own experiences and providing, not only guidance but inspiration and motivation to those in need. Muses, you can say, play a pivotal role in sparking new ideas, providing different perspectives, and encouraging us to think outside the box.
