Dog Figurines Art In Society
Art can serve a variety of purposes in society, both positive
and negative. The contributions of art to society can be evaluated through
pragmatic philosophy.
Don’t take these questions literally. What artists are saying
is that they want to be viewed seriously, to have their efforts and
ideas recognized, to have their work supported. It doesn’t take
much to indicate that: a close look at the work, an open-ended question
or two. Artists are communicators first and foremost, and when communication
with a viewer happens, that is its own reward. Not that paying cash
wouldn’t be welcome.
Art can bring awareness to people. It is a powerful means of presenting
truths about humankind that cannot be expressed any other way. Art also
connects people in a society by presenting an idea that everyone can
relate to in a universal way. The awareness that comes from art will
only lead to a better society if the people take action based on the
ideas they discover in art.
Art has the possibility of making society better, but there are several
steps involved. First, the art must reach the public. Then the people
must appreciate the value of the art. The last step involves people
changing their behavior to improve the society.
The initial action of making art available to the public is necessary
for the art to have any impact on society, but it is not necessary in
classifying the piece as art. John Dewey was an advocate for bringing
art to the common people. His pragmatic approach has some value because
art will not change society until the people can experience the art.
One problem with the theory is that art may have value aside from promoting
positive social changes. A wonderful novel may be burned before it could
ever reach the public, but the novel could still be art. The possible
impact was never realized, and it is a loss to society.
The second step toward changing society involves the reader, viewer,
or listener. The reaction to art should involve a new appreciation for
the human experience. Art may depict positive aspects of life such as
love, beauty, honor, and devotion. The negative human conditions like
fear, hatred, and injustice may be just as meaningful in art. It follows
that a viewer will have a strong emotional response to art because the
ideas expressed are universal in nature. This is similar to Plato's
theory of Forms. The Forms were universally understood ideas. The ideas
are also deep and require the viewer to consider the art carefully.
The concept of isolation that is expressed in Edward Hopper's Night
Hawks can be understood by people from other cultures and other time
periods. Isolation is part of the human experience, and all people can
understand this idea from the painting.
Society will only improve when the public is so moved by art that they
take action. Sometimes the change may be noticeable on a large scale,
but often it is very localized. Van Gogh's painting Sunflowers might
improve society by causing people to appreciate the small and natural
beauty that surrounds them. In contrast, Harriet Beecher Stowe's Uncle
Tom's Cabin helped a stronger and more recognizable change. The book
showed the people of the North the brutality of slavery and aided in
the Abolitionist movement. Art holds the possibility to improve society,
but there are only results when the public can experience and understand
the art.
Art also involves a connection between the viewer and society. Art
can encourage understanding or expose misunderstandings. These are parts
of the human experience that relate the individual to society. The new
awareness can be a benefit to both the society and the individual. The
individual gains better understanding about his or her place in society
and about the society as a whole. The society will profit if the individual
puts this new understanding into practice.