The process of making creative works, participating in them, or examining them enriches the lives of people, impacting an individual’s perception of self and the world around them. The videos and the article discussed as a part of this assignment are all used to highlight the role arts play in society. The videos show that art can be an integral part of human experience, being used as a tool of giving context to history, culture, law, tradition and morality, while the article highlights some of the possible implications of not engaging with creative mediums in life Miami-Dade Community College, 1987).
A painting, movie, or a gallery exhibit can have personal impact on a viewer, making them experience emotions, both negative and positive. It can also be used to challenge societal problems, philosophical conundrums or make the audience question some part of their human experience. Additionally, art can also be used as an escape, as noted by Collingwood in his distinction of art by its functionality (CrashCourse, 2016). Among the thinkers that have discussed art as a medium, Aristotle’s perspective is also interesting (CrashCourse, 2016). The man had proposed that engaging with art induces catharsis in people, namely a feeling of deep satisfaction from experiencing negative emotions in a safe environment.
It is difficult to determine whether means of artistic expression and creativity should be bound by norms of morality, or if challenging them can be a statement in and of itself. People that subscribe to an idea of art being beyond morality can be called autonomists, while aesthetic moralists argue that creative works should be subject to scrutiny based on their moral characteristics. Despite the topic being rather difficult to approach, art has added definite value to the human experience, contributing to the growth and development of newer artistic mediums and means of entertainment.
Art can be considered a safe way to engage with difficult topics and process human trauma, it can also be used as an escape that offers individuals an ability to feel more content with their daily lives. Most importantly, it is a way to present criticism of politics, human behavior, law, morality, or particular historical events in a manner that makes others think. For example, The Great Gatsby is a challenge to the American Dream, and Parasite (2019) is a critique of capitalism.
References
Miami-Dade Community College. A man with no time for beauty. (1987). Web.
YouTube. (2016). Aesthetics: Crash Course Philosophy #31. YouTube. Web.