How Artists Reflect the Collective Human Soul

The intimacy of the medium through which we consume art plays a significant role in this lasting devotion. In the case of film and television, the camera captures the minute flickers of thought in an actor's eyes, creating an illusion of proximity that feels more real than many of our daily interactions. When we spend hours watching an actor's journey, we are essentially inviting them into our homes and our private mental spaces. This proximity creates a psychological bond known as a parasocial relationship, where the viewer feels a genuine kinship with the performer. When the performer dies, the brain mourns them with a sincerity that mirrors the loss of a real-life acquaintance, ensuring that their image remains etched in the heart's gallery of loved ones.