hi kate! i just had to mention louis armstrong, one of
my favorites, who has often been written about by critics
(and i agree) as an artist who specializes in joy.
joyfulness is also a source of, and can be a form for,
art. but it's true that we tend to value art that is
tragic as "deeper." (i'm thinking this is particularly
true in shakespeare studies, where the tragedies have
historically been considered the "to-be-evaluated-
seriously" plays and the comedies, until more recently,
more lighthearted escape stuff.)
-- emily
