Fine Art & Science Fiction

Today I rewatched an episode of Doctor Who that is one of the best ones made. It is called "Vincent and the Doctor" and it is about Vincent Van Gogh. Now I love the visual arts and I love sci-fi, but rarely do the two intersect in such a way as in this episode. If you haven't seen it, I won't ruin it for you with overly specific details, but rather just give you an impression of the show's mood and theme. About 3/4ths of the show is a standard Doctor Who ep in which something otherworldly happens and luckily, the Doctor is there to set things aright. The other 25% is a bittersweet look at the life of a man whose passion clearly drove him to accomplish great things, yet whom failed to receive any recognition for his genius in his lifetime. The Doctor's compassion and affection for Vincent lead him to take him on a trip in the Tardis to the future where he can see for himself how his life impacted the world of the arts. The actor who played Vincent does a wonderful job and really brings in an emotional performance that moved me both times that I watched the show. Bill Nighy also makes a guest star appearance and I really enjoy his work, including this example. The final act, as I said, allows Vincent to glimpse how his paintings finally found their audience and he is overjoyed by the revelation. Now, allow me to say something that could be totally taken the wrong way. I sometimes feel like Vincent, which to say unappreciated. I am just being honest folks. I don't mean to say that I think I have the greatness of Van Gogh, far from it. I am only like him (this Doctor Who version of Vincent) in that there are very few people who "get" me. I am misunderstood and thought to be strange by others, even some of my own family. This is one reason I have begun to write here; maybe I will find readers who will discover a kindred spirit to their own and we can enjoy each other's fellowship. The scene in the show where Vincent is weeping at the site of a crowd of people admiring his paintings moves me because, frankly, I want people to show appreciation for my work. Of course, I only want genuine appreciation and am not looking for charity or pity. If I put my work out there for the world to see and no one likes it, that just means I have to keep working to improve myself.