The Importance of Art

[placebo]

What is the importance of art in your opinion? Whether it be in general or personally?

I ask this because this morning my sister said "I don't care about arts" in regards to recent cuts in arts programs by our PM here in Canada. I was mortally offended inside, but all I managed to say was something as lame as "well if you get rid of all the arts in the world you'd see how important it is."

Well, anyway. What would you respond?

How much does art matter to you, or does it at all?
What is the use of art?

[Uberfuhrer]

Art is a slice of what goes on in my mind -- at least artwork created by me.

Every other work of art is irrelevant.

And if you're talking about modern art made by people who are actually not good at art and invent some wild interpretation of it to impress their girlfriends, well, that's not art, that's just junk made to appeal to the gullible.

[kuranes]

Pan_Sonic000's sig line - "Art is simply man's desperate effort to give shape to his most clairvoyant dreams." I like that.

After the Eiffel tower was built someone asked what its purpose was, in a scoffing way. Its existence is its own purpose.

I agree with the OP that some philistine's will never "get it" though, regardless of the fact that there is admittedly some pretension in the art sector, as there is in others.

Realizing all of the above wouldn't stop me from chuckling at a line like "I write to understand" when I'm in a certain mood, though, even though I believe in the sincerity.

[kyuuei]

I'm an art nut. I love inspiring art, and albeit I have my own ideals on what's beautiful or not, I can't imagine my world without it.

[Jack Flak]

Most "art" is shit. But I like art.

[bluemonday]

Originally Posted by placebo

What is the importance of art in your opinion?

Art is a pathway to the unconscious.

[Uberfuhrer]

Originally Posted by bluemonday

Art is a pathway to the unconscious.

Surely, there is more than one path.

[bluemonday]

Originally Posted by Uberfuhrer

Surely, there is more than one path.

hence "a" pathway, not "the" pathway

Art is only important to human development after more pressing physical needs have been met. Just as you have to secure consciousness, before pondering the imponderables of the unconscious. It is a luxury even to debate how much we spend on it, when so many people don't have the essentials of existence.

That sounds deeper than it's meant to....

[INTJMom]

Originally Posted by placebo

What is the importance of art in your opinion? Whether it be in general or personally?

I ask this because this morning my sister said "I don't care about arts" in regards to recent cuts in arts programs by our PM here in Canada. I was mortally offended inside, but all I managed to say was something as lame as "well if you get rid of all the arts in the world you'd see how important it is."

Well, anyway. What would you respond?

How much does art matter to you, or does it at all?
What is the use of art?

I used to think like your sister because I didn't know any better. I guess I didn't have much exposure to the fine arts when I was young, though I was exposed to music, at least on the folk and popular level.

I read recently that studies have shown that children who learn to play a musical instrument do better in school.
I mention this because when schools cut arts programs, the music programs are usually included in the mix.

Piano Lessons for Children: Learning to Play a Musical Instrument is Good for Children
"Improved school performance. In 2000, Francis Rauscher published research indicating that classroom keyboard lessons causes long-term enhancement of the spatial-temporal reasoning abilities of children (Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 15, 215-228). In plain English, this means that learning to play the piano helped kids understand concepts behind science, math, and even engineering."
In fact, this page lists 6 reasons why music lessons are beneficial to children.


Music and Your School-age Child
Research has shown that children who are actively involved in music (who play it or sing it regularly):
* Do better in reading
* Learn coordination, goal-setting, concentration, and cooperation
* Are more likely to do better in math and science because music helps build reasoning skills and cognitive development, which are important to both
* Get along better with their peers and have higher self-esteem
* Are more likely to go to college
One study demonstrated that second-grade students who were given keyboard training while also using math software scored higher on proportional math and fractions tests than students who used the software alone. And students who have been involved in public school music programs score higher on their SATs than those who don't.

[placebo]

Originally Posted by bluemonday

hence "a" pathway, not "the" pathway

Art is only important to human development after more pressing physical needs have been met. Just as you have to secure consciousness, before pondering the imponderables of the unconscious. It is a luxury even to debate how much we spend on it, when so many people don't have the essentials of existence.

That sounds deeper than it's meant to....

I disagree... I'm curious as to where the idea of art being a luxury comes from. I see art as rather basic actually--it's been around since cavemen. It's a part of human history and dates back way before philosophy, which I know many people like to consider a luxury. There is so much simplicity in creating music with whatever you have, or creating a sculpture or a drawing. Perhaps getting an extensive art collection/gallery is extravagant and a luxury, but not all art is so unaccessable.

Originally Posted by INTJMom

I used to think like your sister because I didn't know any better. I guess I didn't have much exposure to the fine arts when I was young, though I was exposed to music, at least on the folk and popular level.

I read recently that studies have shown that children who learn to play a musical instrument do better in school.
I mention this because when schools cut arts programs, the music programs are usually included in the mix.

Piano Lessons for Children: Learning to Play a Musical Instrument is Good for Children
"Improved school performance. In 2000, Francis Rauscher published research indicating that classroom keyboard lessons causes long-term enhancement of the spatial-temporal reasoning abilities of children (Early Childhood Research Quarterly, 15, 215-228). In plain English, this means that learning to play the piano helped kids understand concepts behind science, math, and even engineering."
In fact, this page lists 6 reasons why music lessons are beneficial to children.


Music and Your School-age Child
Research has shown that children who are actively involved in music (who play it or sing it regularly):
* Do better in reading
* Learn coordination, goal-setting, concentration, and cooperation
* Are more likely to do better in math and science because music helps build reasoning skills and cognitive development, which are important to both
* Get along better with their peers and have higher self-esteem
* Are more likely to go to college
One study demonstrated that second-grade students who were given keyboard training while also using math software scored higher on proportional math and fractions tests than students who used the software alone. And students who have been involved in public school music programs score higher on their SATs than those who don't.

I remember studies like these. I think it's great to have music in your life, so that these studies can encourage people to teach kids music is awesome. And points like these are probably more likely to show people who don't naturally have an affinity for the fine arts the importance it can have. Thanks for the links

Originally Posted by Uberfuhrer

Art is a slice of what goes on in my mind -- at least artwork created by me.

Every other work of art is irrelevant.

And if you're talking about modern art made by people who are actually not good at art and invent some wild interpretation of it to impress their girlfriends, well, that's not art, that's just junk made to appeal to the gullible.

That's interesting... so art is very personal then isn't it?

Haha well I dunno about modern art, there's a lot I like, but PostModern art is usually quite a bit senseless I think.

Originally Posted by kuranes

Pan_Sonic000's sig line - "Art is simply man's desperate effort to give shape to his most clairvoyant dreams." I like that.

After the Eiffel tower was built someone asked what its purpose was, in a scoffing way. Its existence is its own purpose.

I agree with the OP that some philistine's will never "get it" though, regardless of the fact that there is admittedly some pretension in the art sector, as there is in others.

Realizing all of the above wouldn't stop me from chuckling at a line like "I write to understand" when I'm in a certain mood, though, even though I believe in the sincerity.

I like that quote and that concept. Trying to translate an intangible and ideal dream into some materialistic creation. Quite an endeavour. Also like the idea of the art's existence as its own purpose. Hahah and I agree with the rest

Originally Posted by kyuuei

I'm an art nut. I love inspiring art, and albeit I have my own ideals on what's beautiful or not, I can't imagine my world without it.

Originally Posted by Jack Flak

Most "art" is shit. But I like art.

Haha, yea "art" can be quite ill-defined.

Originally Posted by bluemonday

Art is a pathway to the unconscious.

Interesting