Santika Syaravina

People are a sucker for suffering artist stories. Like Vincent Van Gogh, and Jonathan Larson (played by Andrew Garcia in Tick Tick Boom). The notion that real artists has to go through excruciating torment by being unconventional, and perseverance will lead them on to glory. Those who are not led on to glory will be unworthy and deserve to fail. And leaning into a corporate job is like putting yourself in Cages, whilst, in Larson's case, staying as an independent composer is like flying with Wings (?) I don't think that I agree with Larson on this one. A corporate job can also be satisfying if you find the right role in the right corporation. It's a task as hard as any. You see, for me, passion is not limitless. One will be less likely to maintain the same heat of passion if one got no positive feedback that reinforces it. It can be a compliment from the person one admire, fame, or financial gain. Leaning into corporate job is not selling your soul, like what Tick Tick Boom is vividly implying. It's more like a slight change, an evolution, a way to adapt with the adversities of life in the big city. While Tick Tick Boom is a good musical and Andrew Garcia's performance is impeccable, the story its narrating is down right toxic.