Megan Cowdell - 2023

Artist's Statement

I’ve written a few poems that vent my frustrations about the current state of the world. My writing may come off as nihilistic, pessimistic, and edgy (like heavy Shadow the Hedgehog edgy), but I really do have some hope for the future.

I find it interesting how almost every piece of media we’ve consumed in class starts out as a description of a messed-up system but finds a way to include a hopeful message at the end. It’s like watching a fish die for an hour, slowly suffocating, until it jumps up, slapping you in the face and showcasing a hint at life. But it’s still on land, suffocating, and you don’t know if it will slap you in the face again.

I wrote my poems in pieces and ended up connecting sections that matched best. I do include a hopeful message in my last poem, but mainly because I do have respect for those who have more hope than I do. I’m not depressed about the future, but I think I’m justified in claiming that I’m worried and unsure. My final project is that worry and unsureness put to paper (and I was listening to Evanescence and My Chemical Romance when I wrote them)