Summary

The undefined website presents a reflection on the musical "Rent" by Jonathan Larson, its impact on the author, and the broader theme of creation as the antithesis of war, as part of The Commonplace Book Project.

Abstract

The undefined website delves into the significance of Jonathan Larson's musical "Rent," emphasizing its profound emotional effect on the author and its message that creation is the true opposite of war. The article is part of The Commonplace Book Project, which encourages daily reading of diverse literature. The author recounts personal memories stirred by "Rent," connecting the musical's setting to their own high school graduation year and the AIDS crisis. The piece highlights the nostalgia and urgency "Rent" evokes, the fear and confusion surrounding the AIDS epidemic during the author's formative years, and the resonance of the musical's themes with their own experiences. The author also shares their admiration for performances in the live adaptation of "Rent," the mathematical intricacies behind the song "Seasons of Love," and the legacy of Larson, who tragically passed away just before the musical's success. The article concludes with a poem that echoes the creative conflict theme and promotes a resource for maintaining commitment to personal endeavors.

Opinions

The author believes that "Rent" transcends entertainment, serving as a poignant reminder of life's fleeting nature and the importance of living authentically.
They express a deep connection to the musical, attributing this to personal experiences and the historical context of the AIDS crisis.
The author admires Jonathan Larson's work, particularly the song "Seasons of Love," and appreciates the mathematical precision behind its composition.
They are moved by the performances in "Rent Live," especially that of Keala Settle, and consider Larson's posthumous accolades a testament to his talent.
The author values the broader message of "Rent," seeing creation as a force that opposes destruction and war, and finds this message reflected in the poem "A Creative War" by Samanyan Lakshminarayanan.
They endorse The Commonplace Book Project as a beneficial practice for writers and thinkers, suggesting it as a method for sustained creative growth.

The opposite of war isn’t peace.

Jonathon Larson on creation. (The Commonplace Book Project)

The Commonplace Project is a daily post based on Ray Bradbury’s advice to aspiring writers: read a poem, a short story, and an essay every day for 1000 days. These posts start with a quote and go wherever the rabbit hole leads. Follow The 1000 Day MFA so you don’t miss a thing.

“The opposite of war isn’t peace. It’s creation.” — Jonathon Larson, Rent (La Vie Boheme)

I snuggled on my sofa with my dog and my Snuggi and watched Rent Live on Fox tonight.

Rent always gets me. Always. It always makes me cry, but it also always leaves me with this intense sense of life happening right this minute while I’m busy worrying about other things.

I know that’s a mixed reference. But you know what I mean. I think John Lennon would approve anyway.

Viva La Vie Boheme: A Historic Journey Through Jonathan Larson's New York & The Reality of RENT

In 1989, Jonathan Larson, a 29-year-old composer, began working on a musical adaptation of Puccini's La Boheme. Set…

www.broadwayworld.com

Maybe it’s because Rent is set in the year when I graduated from high school. I’m just young enough to have missed the free love 70s/early 80s. I first heard about AIDS when I was 14, spending the summer in Costa Rica with my best friend.

I have a specific memory of being terrified to let the boy I fell in love with that summer touch me, because I didn’t know how people got AIDS, but my friend knew it came from sex.

I had eight younger brothers and sisters at home. I knew where babies came from. I didn’t want anything to do with having one and I didn’t want to get AIDS. So, that beautiful Costa Rican boy was not my first anything.

I grew up with sex education that basically taught me to wear a condom, because sex could kill me.

But I still get a strong sense of nostalgia from Rent.

My favorite part of the tonight’s show was seeing Keara Settle. She didn’t have a big part, but she was amazing.

The Greatest Showman's Keala Settle Slays 'Seasons of Love' in Rent Live Amid Stroke Recovery

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people.com

Jonathon Larson’s papers are housed at the Library of Congress. Including the scrap paper that contains his math for one of my favorite earworms, Seasons of Love.

Seasons of Love: Do the Math

Fans of composer Jonathan Larson and his revolutionary show, Rent (aka, Rentheads), are eagerly anticipating Fox's live…

blogs.loc.gov

The quote at the top of this post is a line from my favorite song in Rent. La Vie Boheme is about refusing to give in to the world that wants you to assimilate.

Larson died suddenly of an aneurysm the day before Rent debuted off Broadway. He was awarded Tonys and a Pulitzer Prize posthumously.

The 2005 film adaptation of Rent was written by one of my favorite authors, Stephen Chbosky (The Perks of Being a Wallflower.)

I’ve added Boho Days: The Wider Work of Jonathon Larson to my reading list.

Today’s Poem:

A Creative War by Samanyan Lakshminarayanan

a conflict in nature a conflict in every particle hard to believe..it is to keep it alive

in every particle the proton and electron in nature the centrifugal and centripetal

no sound heard no damage done a war within..and a very creative one

The Commonplace Book Project

An Experiment.

medium.com

Here’s my secret weapon for sticking with whatever your thing is.

Shaunta Grimes is a writer and teacher. She is an out-of-place Nevadan living in Northwestern PA with her husband, three superstar kids, two dementia patients, a good friend, Alfred the cat, and a yellow rescue dog named Maybelline Scout. She is the author of Viral Nation and Rebel Nationand the upcoming novel The Astonishing Maybe. She is the original Ninja Writer. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.