Aaron Boldur, Liam Cooper, Jacob Moloy, Sammy Doueck

Plugged In: The Playlists of the Pandemic

During the COVID-19 pandemic, while everyone remained isolated in their homes, nervousness, boredom, and fear took hold of many people’s minds. To escape, many turned to music, singing, and art to lift their spirits during an unprecedented time. By “plugging in” to their hearts and devices, Americans rose above their negative emotions and healed their spirits. Many took advantage of this rise to influence higher purposes in the world. Artists called to action and sang about a better time with their lyrics. Social media, particularly TikTok, influenced the music industry in major ways, encouraging people to dance and create with existing records. In this way, social media offered a distraction from the hardships of 2020. Music undeniably played a crucial role throughout 2020 and 2021 as it kept people sane and gave them inspiration throughout a turbulent time in the world.

The idea of music is important to include in the STEAM Festival in that we are all represented by music in some way, shape, or form. Addressing the most pressing social issues that arose during the pandemic is crucial, and doing this through music gives these issues a platform to be heard that is accessible and interesting. We hope that the viewers of our exhibit are introduced to new artists and music that truly has made an impact on today’s society.