Livelyism

One of the fashionable art styles in Torpor after Malaise' Wall was erected is called Livelyism. As a response to the ensuing national depression, many painters, tailors, and play-writes became fixated upon making a measurable change in the spirits of the people. Livelyism focuses on dramatic, flamboyant colors meant to amuse and entertain the viewer, or to make them laugh. Livelyist painting often depicts normal, every day scenes, only painted vibrantly with a cheerful atmosphere. Every character in these paintings, even in more serious scenes, smile, and are shown to be happy to be where they are. This is often carried to an unrealistic degree, like some more comedic scenes depicting monster attacks with smiling victims, which casts a dark, ironic humor over the pieces. Livelyist clothing styles are only widely adopted by the high class of Torpor, since the brightly colored dyes required come at exorbitant costs in modern days. The preferred materials are all light and lacy. The cuts are meant to embellish and billow. In combination, these principals make Livelyist clothing rather impractical and sometimes ridiculous. However, most wearers of the style are ok with looking stupid, so long as it makes people smile. Livelyist play-writes tend to write in two veins, comedy, and lively. Comedy speaks for itself. However, the lively style of play is much like the paintings of Livelyism, showing very natural, day to day events, only cast in a bright, cheery light. There is often singing, dancing, and lots of smiling. There are some mixed results of the Livelyist movement. Many see it as mocking their dire situation, or trying to ignore the struggles of the times. However, the movement has, in many places, achieved its original goal, to make people smile despite the Plagues of Torpor.