Introduction
Art encompasses various forms of creative communication where people can vent their concerns to different audiences. Examples of the different types of art include paintings, songs, poems, and short stories that carry significant themes and messages. Throughout history, art has been used to help people pass their messages, emotions, and ideas through the creative space. Arts have proven to play an essential role in society, such as communication, entertainment, decoration, preservation of cultural identity, education, and personal enrichment.
This essay analyzes the correlation between paintings and jazz music. Paint artists and Jazz musicians use their work to express ideas and pass specific messages to society. Art is inherent in the existence of every soul because it offers an avenue for expression and emotional well-being and gives a way of channeling grievances. Jazz music and the bar and grill painting by Jacob Lawrence are closely interrelated by the message they convey and the theme of freedom displayed.
Paintings-Bar and Grill by Jacob Lawrence
Bar and Grill is an essential work of art by Jacob Lawrence that expresses African Americans’ desire for freedom from oppression. Paintings are creative works of art that go above aesthetic appeals and offer humans a unique way of preserving their cultural history and passing on communication. Besides displaying human creativity, the arts are critical in documenting precious human history, like recording how and when an event occurred. In the history of Black Americans, for example, paintings were used to maintain their struggle and to communicate their concerns to the government. Further, the paintings inspired people to overcome their fears and communicate to the present regime their rights and the preservation of their identity.
Jazz
Jazz is a popular music genre among African Americans and helped create an identity and offer an opportunity for blacks to express themselves in a racially segregated society. It is imperative to note that jazz plays a vital role in preserving the history of black Americans and serves as a form of inspiration. The music emerged at a time when people of color were discriminated against, and it symbolized the struggle for freedom and became a catalyst for social change. Through the musical platform, Black Americans could articulate the issues affecting them and argue with the existing regime on their liberties (Ladson-Billings 67). Besides being a vehicle for human rights communication, it offered economic empowerment as it became a source of finances for talented artists.
Correlation of the Works of Art
The presented painting closely correlates with jazz music, as they are both used to serve people’s interests of advocating for freedom. The correlation between the two works of art is intertwined and symbolic as they are both used to preserve history and form part of the cultural identity. Although the two can be related in numerous ways, this essay analyzes the correlation of the two art forms through the lens of cultural identity and expression, offering inspiration for future generations.
Cultural Identity
The portrayal of black identity in the USA was expressed through art and music. Renowned painters such as Jacob Lawrence used the existing moments that defined black lives, such as slavery, to create portraits that could preserve the history of blacks for future generations. Jazz music was also a symbolic form that narrated the blacks’ lives and challenges (Ergashev and Nodira 477). Therefore, the two art forms relate in their thematic expression as they both preserved and maintained the history of blacks.
Expression
The overall aim of the two art forms was to express the needs of the people for liberation and gaining independence. In contrast, the paintings captured the black’s aesthetics, cultures, and traditions to express their creativity and inspire revolt; jazz music leveraged paintings to solidify its themes. For example, the paintings that encouraged blacks to fight against slavery and racism were placed in the background of concerts where jazz music was playing to centralize the theme of fighting for freedom (Claridad 14). Similarly, jazz music was closely related to graffiti, as painting further communicated the themes.
Inspirations for Future Generations
Both works of art celebrated African identity, excellence, and creativity, and inspired future generations to rise against discrimination and steer their way to freedom. Both works of art create a foundation that future generations will leverage for success and expression (Marino 7). Each work encourages people to never remain silent in the face of oppression and always voice their concerns to the relevant authorities for liberation and success (Claridad 14). The success of the blacks in the painting and jazz music realms served the singular purpose of encouraging all the oppressed people that the ultimate price of freedom can only be obtained through struggle.
Conclusion
The arts are essential to individuals’ lives, and every person can share an experience where the different genres have been significant. African Americans enjoy freedom today because art offered a way of expression during times when discrimination and slavery were at their peak. The tremendous roles played by the arts, such as expression, entertainment, and cultural identity, underscore the importance of art in human life. Therefore, art affects every soul, and it helps shape lives.
Works Cited
Claridad, Jonathan. “Leaders and Players: The Role of Jazz Artists as Civil Rights Activists.” Historical Perspectives: Santa Clara University Undergraduate Journal of History, Series, vol. 24, no. 1, 2019, pp. 149-159. Web.
Ergashev, Ibodulla, and Nodira Farxodjonova. “Integration of National Culture in the Process of Globalization.” Journal of Critical Reviews, vol. 7, no. 2, 2020, pp. 477–483. Web.
Ladson-Billings, Gloria. “I’m here for the hard re-set: Post pandemic pedagogy to preserve our culture.” Equity & Excellence in Education, vol. 54, no. 1, 2021, pp. 68-78. Web.
Marino, Stefano. “Jazz Improvisation and Somatic Experience.” The Journal of Somaesthetics, vol. 5, no. 2, 2019, pp. 6–8. Web.