Why create Welcome to Night Vale?

“Yesterday is Bring Your Time Machine to Work Day.”

I printed out the words, drew a little eye and a frame, and stapled it to a pole outside.

This is a quote from the podcast Welcome to Night Vale, which is a story about a radio announcer living in the city of Night Vale, where all conspiracy theories are true. Dogs and people are forbidden from entering the Dog Park, time travelers frequent the Ralphs, and a strange, glowing cloud looms in the distance, chanting lines and running for president of the PTA.

I love this podcast because it’s about creating stories from pre existing stories. We’ve all seen hundreds of stories about aliens. But have you seen them running for mayor? And winning? How about librarians being known as vicious, grotesque creatures? Creating mundanity out of absurd situations gives stories life. Small details can flesh out a story, and make the insane feel commonplace.

Why create when everything has already been created?

In a world where every story has been told over and over again, audiences still clamor to listen to them. Odysseus, The Matrix, A Wrinkle in Time, Percy Jackson: all are examples of the plot of a hero’s journey. These stories create familiarity, with small twists to keep the audience on edge. The brain is stimulated by finding patterns, but in a different formation as opposed to monotony.

So, why create?

Two reasons: for yourself, and for the world. Create for yourself. Push your frustration into art. Vent your grief into a statue. Create for the world. Share your happiness with an upbeat song. Express your feelings about current events with words. Create because you want to bring beauty into the world, and leave a piece of yourself behind.