Art’s Impact on Society

February 11, 2008, by e Art fair .com Leave a Comment

Art is an extremely private experience, yet, it is meant to be shared with the public. Society, as a whole, examines the art produced and has the right to approve, disapprove, acknowledge, ignore, praise and abuse it. The public or society has not remained constant over the years. In the time of the Renaissance, for example, only a select few were “society.” They commissioned art, were patrons of the arts and their artists. Today, almost anyone can share in the experience of art. They can attempt to create, view and act as a critic.

Does art make the world a better place, or is it quite useless? This is a very ancient riddle, and no one has solved it yet. A similar question – has art truly had any impact upon society? Has it fashioned or molded minds? Has it shaped opinions and altered how people feel or think? Is it practicable in or relevant to society and its individuals’ daily lives?

Art reflects life. It is a portrait of history, whether it is history of the current moment or an event in the past or something of the imagination. Art has captured an event, clarifying its existence and representation to society. The portraits of the French Revolution by David, Benjamin West’s portrayal of the death of General Wolfe and Poussin’s recreation of the Rape of the Sabine Women all strive to provide a version of historical events. Society, in turn, can accept or reject these portrayals of true events. Sometimes, as in the case of Goya’s depiction of the French behavior during their conquest of Spain, art inspires a deep hatred of a certain nationality.

Art encapsulate a country’s culture during that time period. Rembrandt, Rousseau, Monet, Hogarth, Whistler, Jan Steen, Frans Hal and Breughel depict for their generation the world as they see it. They affect future society by providing concise, if sometimes imaginative, depictions of daily life. Brughel the Elder paints peasants, Jean Baptiste depicts lower-class life and Daumier’s subjects in “The Third Class Carriage” are not the
lofty work of Gainsborough. The wit and graphicness of Hogarth in “The Rake’s Progress” or the imposing work of Thomas Eakins’ “The Gross Clinic” provide historians with clues and pictures to a vastly different way of life. Jan Steen’s “The Eve of St. Nicholas” provides a way to uncover how people spent Christmas in the early 17th century in the Netherlands.

Art has encouraged feelings of patriotism and national pride. Goya’s, “The Third of May, 1808,” the Americans portrayal of their revolution and countless other artists across the centuries have provided an impact extending beyond the work. Depictions of Washington crossing the Delaware, and portraits of battlefields, at home and abroad, are scenes that inspire society. These works also remind the public of their past, what has been sacrificed or accomplished and what they can aspire to in the present or future.

Artwork has also provided clues to lives long over and species since disappeared. Holstein provides us with portraits of people long dead e.g. Henry VIII, Erasmus of Rotterdam, as Rubens does with his painting of Marie de’ Medici. Goya’s masterful and psychologically rich work “The Family of Charles IV” lays bare the natures and relationships of this royal family for all of society to view. Art has also provided examples of garden styles, structures to be imitated and fashions to follow.

Artwork has allowed us to glimpse lives and lifestyles. At one time, dressmakers in the colonies used the artwork found in magazines and depicted in reproductions of paintings to create the latest in fashionable clothing. Art shaped a fashionable society where none had existed before. It allowed the Americans to be as up-to-date as their European counterparts. In the same manner, George Caleb Bingham with his painting “Fur Traders on the Mississippi” allowed Europeans a glimpse of another life. The art works by the Jewish artists trapped in the concentration camps of World War II preserve for all time the horrors of war and the inhumanity inflicted by one race upon another. Art has also been a medium to help spread a culture. Art of propaganda during war is a classic example. Posters urge people to support their troops. Marketing ploys ask consumers to buy locally or purchase a specific product. Pop art is probably one of the most influential societal tools of the modern and post-modern age. The best possible example is Any Warhol. His Campbell Soup Cans are now icons.

Art has stirred the imagination of all nations from the earliest time. It has helped roused patriotic fervor, brought new ideas and culture to light, raised questions and rewritten or reinterpreted historical events. Art has provided clues to the past and advanced questions about the future. Its impact continues to be felt emotionally. For, above all, art touches us beyond the intellect, reaching down into society’s emotional core. In the end, the greatest impact of art is its ability to provide us with the truth about the world seen through the eye of an artist.

By Grant Eckert

About Author

Grant Eckert is a writer for Maccaca. Maccaca is a leading Art & Photography | Social Network. visit at: www.maccaca.com

Have Questions About Arts And Crafts? Get Answers Here

Author, Rachel Scott

Arts and crafts have been enjoyed for centuries and are something that a lot of people do no matter where they come from. All it takes to begin a project are certain tools and creativity. You have the ability to be a great crafter by using the advice that follows.

When looking to save money on arts and crafts supplies, don't overlook national chain stores. While specialty stores will have the best selection, office supply and department stores will carry a lot of supplies you can use on your next project. Keep an eye out for Sunday circulars and online coupons from these stores to save big.

Browsing the internet for new ideas is a great way to expand your arts and crafts skills. You can see what other crafters are creating and gain a new perspective on what you can create with your crafting skills. So go online to find new ways to expand your creativity when you are doing your favorite craft or hobby.

Try setting aside a craft job that you can do while doing arts and crafts projects with your kids. If you are really into arts and crafts, and you don't do this, you could start hovering and trying to control what your kids are doing. They should be able to do their own thing while you do yours.

Brick and mortar stores are great when searching for arts and crafts supplies. One of the largest retailers is Hobby Lobby. Hobby Lobby carries fabric, beading supplies, yarns and floral supplies. Additionally, they are the perfect go-to retailer for art supplies with the wide selection of canvases, paints and brushes.

As you are now aware, arts and crafts do not have to be overly intricate or difficult. Use them to make your whole family happy. These ideas are a great start, but you should keep learning to better your craft projects.

Do you Love art? Please share in the comments below.

The Power Of Mindset!

Hi again!

     How's everyone today? Great I hope! The reason for my asking is that sometimes things get pretty dull the more you go through the same process. Your mindset determines the success or failure of your day. What I mean by that is your attitude, emotions, mindset, etc. can determine how most of your day will proceed. For example, you may not be a morning person so you may not be at your best during the morning hours. Therefore, your day may not go as smoothly as you would like and the rest of your day is stress-packed.

     However, you could also start your day with a smile, along with a warrior spirit; and as a result, you can have a few obstacles and still have an awesome day. You can choose your mindset. And if you're undecided, that's okay! Just remember that only you can determine how to start off your day and fight through the stress. Going through daily life is sometimes hard. Sometimes, the stresses of daily life just make you want to SCREEEEEEEEEEAAMMMMMM!!!!  😱

      I know that hearing this from a total stranger that doesn't fully understand your situation isn't exactly ideal to some, and you're right - I don't fully understand your situation. I also don't know you as the person that you are; I don't know your strengths, weaknesses, personality, or the progress you've made since the day of your birth.

But you do.

     If life were easy, there wouldn't be any of the struggles that have gone on in the past, and your future would be different. Think of it like this: why do you continue to make mistakes, even though you don't want to? Too many, right?! Why do we go through failure more times than achieving success? That's because we learn more from our mistakes than accomplishments. In other words, we experience the most growth in our lives during adversity. When you make a mistake and learn something from that, then that alone would be altogether excellent progress! Only you know what you can and cannot do, so if that's the case...

What's stopping you from having a great day?

It all comes back to your mindset. Think positive, expect positive results and more often than not positive results will happen. Think negative, expect negative results and more often than not negative results will happen.

I hope this helps. Thanks for reading and make it a great day!