History and the development of human thoughts through culture, visual art, and music is Wendy’s greatest interest. It is a complex vision, and I never thought that music and visual art could be more than a way to entertain. Indeed, music, especially instrumental music of the Renaissance and classical music, was probably perceived not only as a way of relaxation but also as an opportunity to unite with the divine and exchange feelings between the composer, the performer, and the listeners. For example, in Enlightenment France and Renaissance Italy, musicians were present at all important events: weddings, balls, and traditional holidays, such as harvest festivals. Equally interesting, traveling musicians – bards, troubadours – could be the only source of news and cultural enrichment for many residents of remote settlements in the Middle Ages. They recorded history in songs, and in this way, humanity passed on experience from one generation to another.
Today, music remains a critical tool for the exchange of ideas. For younger people, music can be a factor that helps them define their individuality; for more experienced people, it can be a way to relax and get distracted from everyday life. I agree with Wendy that music can be an important tool to influence the consciousness of the listener because the messages that a person perceives in the most relaxed state are probably the most powerful. Most people are careful about their musical preferences, realizing that these preferences, to some extent, shape mood, social position, cultural, and even national beliefs.
I am more inclined to listen to live, warm music that is created using acoustic, classical musical instruments. In the time of super-high speeds and artificial intelligence, which is gradually covering the entire living space, I often lack unity with nature and its primordial, renewing forces. That’s why I get real pleasure when I attend concerts of live instrumental music and jazz music. I never thought about it from this perspective, and now I understand better how music can be a way of communication.
As I said in my initial post, visual art is the hardest for me to understand. I do not have a proper education nor a natural inclination to evaluate art pieces. Camrin says that she had an experience with identifying, describing, and relating to multiple pieces of art in the framework of the Art History course she was taking. I would also like to learn how to appreciate art. It seems to me that by evaluating the works of masters, I will be able to understand better the performance techniques and ways of conveying ideas through visual elements.
I think that visual art can be a good way to communicate and learn about earlier eras of human development. Therefore, it would be interesting for me to study the techniques of conveying information in the paintings of the Middle Ages and learn to understand later eras. For example, I am very inspired by the art of the French Impressionists of the late 19th century, artists Van Gogh, Monet, and Manet. I enjoy looking at depicted landscapes, but I hope that as I gain more knowledge, I will better understand the emotional and cultural messages of portrait artists.
Modern art is no less interesting for me and especially difficult to comprehend. The use of the most eclectic styles by modern artists and sculptors causes a feeling of chaos and confusion in my soul, which is why I do not get pleasure from modern art. However, if I master the tools of contemporary art appreciation, I may be able to look at the works of young authors without prejudice. Before, I did not allow the idea that I could become an educated connoisseur of art, but such a thought inspires me. I feel that, in this way, I will expand my horizons of knowledge of modern culture and improve my understanding of art history.