The Arts

The Arts

Art is a mode of expression that uses skill or imagination in the creation of aesthetic objects , environments , or experiences that can be shared with others (Encyclopedia Britannica , 2007 . Art is divided into different categories such as literature (poetry , drama , story , and so on , the visual arts (painting , drawing , sculpture , etc , the graphic arts (painting , drawing , design , etc , the performing arts (music , dance , etc ) and many more (Encyclopedia Britannica , 2007 . Art is a portentous practice which is situated within history and society Art is part of human existence for

it a product of the human mind . Art plays a major role in our lives and it affects our lives in many ways The following paragraphs will bring light into the role of art in people 's lives , through a discussion of ideas and insights related to the

People perceive art in different ways . There are a number of factors that could influence one 's perception of art . These are : social status culture , educational background , gender , age , etc

The class reading which was entitled , It 's not rocket science ' showed us a scenario wherein science and engineering students were required to take humanities and social science classes . These students were obviously not receptive to the idea . This reaction is common to those who are not inclined to the arts . In this case , we have science and engineering students who did not realize the importance of humanities (which is related to art ) and social science . The reason for this requirement was mentioned in the text

The students say 'There 's too much reading , too much writing - you 're murdering us

said Philip Khoury , MIT 's humanities dean "We want kids who will win the Nobel Prize in science , but we also want to produce leaders . And there 's no way they can be leaders without the big picture " By that he means without a grasp of the world outside the laboratory , where gene engineering is as much about ethics as it is about science .The Torrance resident designs algorithms that control the position of satellites "The humanities can really help you in your career and in your personal life , he said (Pringle , 2003

The humanities dean was aware that understanding the world around us is important if we want to be successful . This means that if we understand art , we will also understand the world . This requirement would benefit the students because they have an opportunity to hone their critical writing , and composition skills . These students will also be able to communicate their thoughts well and express themselves better

It is common among people to overlook the essence and importance of art in our everyday lives . Art , just like science , cannot be isolated from our everyday lives . In fact , art and science works together to shape the world . An artist named Andre Brodyk (2001 ) wrote the following

Culture can be thought of as such a living organism . Since culture like art and science is neither fixed nor static , but a complex arrangement possessing the attributes of living matter it is appropriate to consider culture in this way .Art and Science are like genes comprised of DNA in that neither Art , nor Science function in isolation , but are intrinsically part of a larger complex and multileveled networked living system (p .1

Art and science are both part of the bigger picture . They are almost two entirely different things that work together in a complex setting . This leads to the proposal that art affects our lives

Art is a form of expression . Through art , we could express our thoughts and feelings . It is an intellectual form of communication . Art reflects the political , economical , and religious aspects of cultures . Art is connected to culture and history . History is recorded through art History is depicted from ancient stone carvings to the most modern portrait ever painted . It is dynamic . It evolves through time . It also preserves culture and heritage . Art inspires people . Its various forms bring joy to different kinds of people . Art can be appreciated by anyone , no matter what social status they 're in . It is through art that we begin to feel like human again it is only through it that we become more in touch with our emotions

One of the major functions of art in society is to be a channel for social change . It has the power to effortlessly influence a great mass of people because its various forms could reach people of different ages , social status , gender , ethnicity and preferences . Literature is an art form which has proven to be an effective channel for social change It has the ability to influence and ignite both the intellect and emotions . Throughout history , we have seen that literature was used to expose the truths about society . Novels , pamphlets and the like were used by different revolutionaries around the world to relate these truths to the people

On the other hand , music has also been a powerful medium for social change . This form of art has been widely used to reach out to people in a way that nothing else could . Artists or musicians around the world used music to voice out their views on politics and society . It is a very effective means to change the views of both politicians and the people . Bob Dylan is one of the popular artists who used his art to voice out protest against certain social issues during his time

Art is part of human existence . Art is not just found on books paintings , sculptures or plaques but everywhere . It can be seen from the clothes you wear to the way you move . The understanding of art is essential because it unites us with the world 's culture and history Art , just like science , affects our lives in numerous ways . Science and technology improves our way of living , while art makes living worthwhile . Art has been used as an instrument for social change . It is an effective medium that artists have used to express their views on society . When it comes to interpreting and appreciating art , one must not only look on its tangible aspects , but must also take into account its social meanings and effects

References

Brodyk , A (2001 . Genetic Art and Culture . AIHLE 6th Annual Conference Retrieved December 3

2007 from HYPERLINK "http /www .law .mq .edu .au /ANZIHLE /docs /brodyk_cp_01 .pdf www .law .mq .edu .au /ANZIHLE /docs /brodyk_cp_01 .pdf Encyclopedia Britannica (2007 . The arts . Encyclopedia Britannica Retrieved December 2

2007 from HYPERLINK "http /www .britannica .com /eb /article-9009655 http /www .britannica .com /eb /article-9009655

Pringle , Paul (2003 . It 's not rocket science . Los Angeles Times Retrieved December 3 , 2007 , from

HYPERLINK "http /staffwww .fullcoll .edu /jcain /ESL 20185 /Readings 20Arts /Reading 20 Not 20Rocket 20Science .htm http /staffwww .fullcoll .edu /jcain /ESL 20185 /Readings 20Arts /Reading 20N ot 20Rocket 20Science .htm

Outline

I . Introduction

II . The role of art in our lives

A . How art is perceived (in relation to the class reading and personal experience

B . Art and Science

C . How art affects our lives

III . Closing remarks The Arts PAGE 1 ...