Blog 7 Art1B

Art and society. I think they're inseparable. If there is a society there will soon emerge a creative imagination that will express itself somehow. Virtually everything we studied so far has been art relative to the society around it. There seems to be an interdependence. The role of art in society is defined by the culture of the time and the art created and preserved ultimately helps define the culture it sprang from. The art we have been viewing in the text is the "creme de le creme", the very best that a period has to offer. In a sense its a snapshot of a period in the broadest most enduring terms. Ideally art should be a positive force in society, but of course that's where the river becomes turbulent and difficult to navigate. Who or what determines what is positive, we don't' all agree on that. Maybe over time art will continue to help define the "ideal", much as the Greeks and the Renaissance did in some particular way. The art of the past has largely been paintings as a means of expression and communication. It was used extensively as a teaching tool, as a legal document, a historical record, a sign of social standing and a means of commenting on a situation and simply entertainment. Today, there are many more avenues of expression that are used for these purposes. I think that television and the movies (video) have replaced paintings as a main source of entertainment and teaching for the greater part of the population. An example of this is the anti-smoking advertisements that are broadcast on television. they are very engaging, pointed, convincing and effective. In my opinion they are imaginative and creative. The Internet is another means of expression that can be used creatively to educate, entertain and inform. Arts has a role in society, it should be used to define the ideal and pursue it. This will be ongoing!

Blog 6 Art1B

CON-TEXT: the parts of a discourse that surround a word or passage and help to explain its meaning; also: the circumstances surrounding and act or event. The circumstances surrounding and act or event. Well, I guess it finally dawned on me that the religious, political, and economic environment of any given age directly influence artistic expression. The influence may be direct and positive. Abundant wealth may allow for artists to create and thrive, an open free atmosphere might encourage new avenues of expression. A relaxed stable government could tolerate a variety of creative opinion. Religion might exercise positive moral influence for the good of the human family and this could be reflected in the art of the day. On the other hand, tight economic control or limited resources might dictate who or what is allowed to create and what is created. Strict government control might use art for their own self interest or the advancement of their "agenda". Religion could use art as a tool for deep influence or even control. The historical reality seems to be that so far, events, priorities, circumstances and probably pure chance have conspired to give us a huge treasure trove of established art to appreciate and enjoy, but to begin to understand it we have to view it in its context.