Great art transcends boundaries of space, time and context.
Heidi, a novel written in 1881 by the Swiss author Johanna Spyri, was retold as a Japanese anime production that became popular all over the world. The story of the flight of the von Trapp family from the Nazis was retold by Hollywood in the world famous musical – The Sound of Music.
Both these works transcended their respective contexts by connecting with us at a deeper level – one that is universal.
Heidi isn’t just a story of a little girl falling in love with the mountains. It shows us how adults everywhere, both in Frankfurt and in the Swiss alps, have much to learn from precocious little children. The Sound of Music isn’t just a story of a family’s escape from the Nazis. It tells us about the transformative power of music to heal adults and children alike.
If only we make a habit of digging through the surface and delving into its essence, great art everywhere inspires us to become the best versions of ourselves.