10/15/2013

A Historical Overview Of Arts Effect On Society

By Catalina Nielsen


Many art forms have a unique way of depicting ideas or truths to different people that other mediums will fail to do. This could be thoughts and ideas about humanity, religion, the world or anything more specific. These revolutionary new ideas or truths can be so completely profound that in time arts effect on society can even be felt across the world.

Many times people make these connections due to them being presented in such a form that it will become universal within the thoughts of the viewing public. Over time these simple ideas become more universal and they start motivating people into action. When people follow these new actions based on these ideas or truths it may have the profound effect of altering the world everywhere. America gaining independence, the war against slavery or civil rights are a few notable examples of this happening.

The awareness the public gains from art can only enrich cultures when the public takes action based on these ideas which are presented in the art. There is also an opportunity for this to be used negatively. The Third Reich attempted to use this method as they marched their war machine across world. Even though assorted forms of art could make society a better place the process requires both time and effort.

To start with the art should be available for society in general. This may be paintings, books, films and music. As it spreads to people its influence will keep growing exponentially. Art will not change things until society can experience it. Films can be watched, books are read, pictures or paintings viewed. By their nature though pieces of art are sometimes banned and destroyed before this can happen.

A controversial movie that helped define women's rights was the film deep throat. Even though it became classified as pornographic and banned in several cities, women every where embraced it and the idealistic freedoms it portrayed on the screen. There is ongoing speculation that if this influential movie not been on the big screen, women's rights may have been pushed back by a decade or more.

One of the most famous painters Van Gogh did the starry night around 1889. This one painting became a driving factor behind the fledgling impressionist movement. By tossing caution into the wind, many artists could incorporate a more realistic poetic symmetry to what they saw or felt.

A still photograph is one of the most underestimated weapons on the planet. In 1963 a Vietnamese girl was photographed as she ran from a South Vietnamese napalm attack. This one picture drove home the hard reality of what the Vietnam war was to millions of American citizens. It transcended the basic ideas of right or wrong and became a rallying point for people wanting to stop all American involvement with Vietnam.

Most influential art forms create a connection between society and the viewer. This needs to happen in order for arts effect on society and culture to happen. Even art from the past could resurface to be seen in different ways. This is how societies can potentially start evolving over time to something better.




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