My senses were dulled by lack of interest in the objective. Sitting at my desk, trying to find a book to report on for an English Literature class, I was feeling completely lost and unenthusiastic about being back at school, let alone the assignment. I felt a closeness to overlooked artists. In ‘09, while living in my parents’ basement, I’d keep mtvU in the background as a source of discovering new music and artists who weren’t receiving recognition on mainstream airwaves. My compassionate yet academically-minded Indian immigrant father was running low on patience for his “artsy” son struggling to complete undergrad, while his friends’ children were all on steady career paths. By the time I’d finally given up, I had no idea which direction I was heading. I had exhausted all avenues, took criticism too personally, and began to give up on a passion I’d coveted since fifth grade. Though I managed to land a small record deal for my band, sales were next to nothing and fandom was nearly nonexistent. In 2009, I was still stuck in community college after having dropped out a few times to pursue my dream of being a musician. I discovered Oscar Wilde unexpectedly, perhaps at a time I needed him most but didn’t know it. Rupert Everett’s directorial debut The Happy Prince (2018) -a brilliant biopic where he also portrays Wilde at the end of his life following his release from prison after being found grossly indecent-is a must-watch for anyone mildly curious about the man behind the pen. In fact, his influence on our culture has continued to find its way in modern entertainment. If you haven’t read The Picture of Dorian Gray (1891) or The Importance of Being Earnest (1895), it’s never too late to discover Wilde’s work. Still considered controversial by some-mostly when dissecting his personal life-his wit and outspokenness seem to have stood the test of time and, dare I say, more relevant than ever? (I loathe that term). One hundred and twenty one years after his death, Irish playwright and poet Oscar Wilde still resonates with readers, romantics and rebels all over the world.
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