The Impact of Entertainment
As I sit here and process the passing of Mandisa, a Christian artist popular from the 2000s to the 2020s, I realize the impact she’s had on my life.
She was never my favorite singer, nor were her songs ever my first choice. But when “Overcomer” started playing on the radio as my mom drove us around town on errands, we’d all sing at the top of our lungs - quite inharmoniously - and we’d all smile and the world would be a happy place for three minutes. Having just moved across the country, her music - along with other artists like TobyMac, Jamie Grace, MercyMe, Chris Tomlin, and so many more - was the only ounce of familiarity I had in a completely new state. I’m instantly transported back to that time in my life when I hear her music, and it’s a warm feeling as I hear the melodies she belted with so much joy and vibrance.
And as I think about the impact she had on my life, and as I attempt to dry my tears over the loss of such a wonderful person, I begin to realize the real reason I write songs and stories. Because they were my friends, and authors like Louisa May Alcott or Laura Ingalls Wilder, or artists like Mandisa, Britt Nicole, or Jamie Grace were the companions to a very lonely journey in a new state filled with strange places and people I didn’t know.
In the tumultuous middle school days, movies like Frozen or Zootopia became a comfort, because I could watch them and know there was a happy ending in a period of my life where happy endings seemed impossible for me. To showcase how much I loved these movies, I had memorized Frozen line by line - as had a friend - and we performed it around my house one day - twice so we could both play Elsa.
And in high school, Jane Austen and artists like Hollyn became companions to a difficult period of learning my identity and stumbling through puberty, hormones, boys, and friendships. Pride and Prejudice was my entertainment during lock-down, and Elizabeth Bennet became the only friend I could spend very much time with.
In college, Ryan Tedder and my favorite band, OneRepublic, became my solace as I reveled in their soundscapes after a long day of classes, work, and socializing.
Not one of these authors or artists or screenwriters ever fixed my problems, healed my mental health, or gave me any revolutionary answers about how to live my life. That’s a job for Jesus and Jesus alone. But they did give me something I needed: joy. Catharsis. Happiness. A melody or line to cry along with. Dopamine, entertainment, certainty, familiarity. In the ever changing scope of life, music, movies, books, or even video games provide a burst of joy in so many ways. They’re more than entertainment. They’re companions for different seasons of life.
And so, as I retreated from my desk today to shed a few tears for the loss of Mandisa, I realized why I feel the itch to create. It’s not to make money - if I wanted money I wouldn’t have majored in communications. It’s not for fame - if I wanted fame I’d jump on TikTok and start singing raunchy music. It’s because the profound impact entertainment has had on my life. It’s because the stories of Laura Ingalls' many adventures shaped my imagination. It’s because Jo March’s many plights were similar to my own. It’s because the melodies Mandisa sang made me happy when I didn’t feel very happy overall. It’s because Elsa’s insecurities matched my own, and I knew what it was like to fear what made me different from other people.
The things I write have the power to help people. Not fix people - I don’t really think Bren’s story will automatically cure the heartache so many of us have faced, but maybe her character arc will make my readers feel more hopeful. If I ever release music, maybe the words I sing will put a smile on someone’s face. And if I can make someone happier or deepen a sense of connection with themselves or Jesus, then I’ve done my job.
That’s what Mandisa did. In the happy songs and ballads, she was my friend. She never knew my name, but there’s a reason I’m crying over someone I’ve never met before.
It all matters. Everything. And I hope I can be half as impactful to someone as Mandisa was for me. Thanks for reading. God bless.
-Kaelyn
