What is art anyway? I think this is a question that I
ask myself pretty frequently. My Chinese teacher, in a lesson about Van Gogh, said that art was anything that had beauty in it. I really like that definition for art: music, movies, books are all then lumped into the idea of art and I think, that's all the more beautiful. Maybe, art, in essence, is anything creative and has an aesthetic value, encompassing everything from movies, books to paintings and architecture.
Is art history intrinsically? Books are definitely filled with history and context and so are movies; the techniques used during the time are also indicative of the progress and technology during that specific moment in time. I also do think that conventional art, like paintings, sculptures, is a piece of history we actively interact with. To be honest, art is probably the only piece of live, interactive piece of history have.
Regardless, however, I do think that art is underrated as well, especially in the chaotic society we currently are in. Although art may be perceived as elitist and not easily accessible, because art allows for creativity, heals, and understanding of the past and present, art remains underrated and unappreciated.
As an individual’s expression of creativity, art is valuable to the world and deserves to be appreciated more. When one makes art, one is able to show their creativity to the world. When Anna May Wong, the first Asian American actress to be known internationally, grew disillusioned with Hollywood and its racial discriminations (favoring yellow face rather than authentic representation), she began making her own film. As a result of creating this piece of art, she could more adequately express her own ideas: she could share how she saw the world and she had full creative license. Thus, art allows people to express their creativity, their ideas, and values with the world at large: without art, these geniuses and people would remain silent and the world would remain unaware of various perspectives and talents, which only demonstrates our need to appreciate art more. Likewise, in modern day, Chloe Gong, author of The Violent Delights, was able to express her own creativity in her book, a 1920s retelling of Romeo and Juliet. If she did not create this book, this piece of art, she wouldn’t have been able to express her own unique take and vision on a centuries old piece and her creative genius would have been lost. Art and creating this book allowed Gong to express her unique vision and understanding. However, as art is a manifestation of one individual’s creativity and understanding, art may remain elusive to some, especially those who are not interested nor inclined to dissect a piece: many have been apathetic or have not understood others’ creativity and view art as frivolous especially in relation to our increasingly chaotic society. However, that is exactly the genius of art -- it is individual and an individual’s expression of how they see the world and may not be created to be understood; Jackson Pollock’s chaotic canvases serve as testament to how many people do not understand these paintings. Nonetheless, these canvases were full of Pollock’s own creativity and understanding. Without art, these unique voices would be buried; thus, we must appreciate art more and it is critically under appreciated at present.
Likewise, because art and creating art produces a healing effect, art must be valued in today’s society. Whenever I paint, it alleviates stress and many people partaking in art therapy will agree as well: because it is so healing and has such a healing effect, we should appreciate it more. Art therapy may feel expensive and excessive and very elitist, but in reality, more and more people are turning to art to heal themselves, particularly during this critical, post- COVID 19 time of strife, chaos, recovery: arts councils, art charities and foundations aimed at minorities and at-risk youth are growing and are often supported by professional artists and musicians, further illustrating how the arts are currently underdeveloped and how we must support these charities in their pursuits of spreading art. Professional artists will agree that art is healing: Frida Kahlo, after she suffered multiple tragedies, she turned to art to recuperate. After a train accident when Kahlo was just eighteen, she was able to revitalize herself by beginning to paint and by creating art. Through her paintings, she was able to heal herself, supporting herself both financially and emotionally. Likewise, after receiving an abortion due to a miscarriage, she painted some of her most devastating paintings, depicting her struggles with her body and purging herself of her trauma. Furthermore, when Kahlo was suffering through a very tumultuous relationship with her husband, she painted ideas of independence, of freedom and equality, that inspired her to advocate for a more equal relationship, thus healing and improving herself. Without art, Frida would not have been able to truly heal herself and her relationships; because art produces such a healing effect on both recreational and professional artists and allows for artists to heal themselves, art should be appreciated more.
Furthermore, art allows for a greater understanding of the world, at no cost to the general public. Finding pieces of art around the world like the Pyramids, the Great Wall of China, the Lascaux cave paintings, allows us to understand various cultural values, and better define how people lived during that time period and what they valued. If art didn’t exist, we would not be aware of the cultural values of the past like we know of them today and would not have such an in-depth understanding of the world: our diplomatic relationships would change as well as our understandings of various cultures and of ourselves. That’s why, although thought to be elitist, art is very accessible; it is all around us and teaches us about ourselves and the world we constantly interact with on a daily basis. Likewise, when we find old books and in essence, pieces of art, such as Pride and Prejudice, they offer the real reality of that time period and how people functioned during that time period. This is significant because art serves as a testament to the past and an understanding of ourselves. Without these works and these pieces of art, we would never understand them and learn to progress as well; thus, art is underrated and deserves more appreciation.
In a world without art, people would not be able to express their creativity, heal themselves and learn about the world around them: thus, we must highlight the importance of art.
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