thanks for any comments and suggestions!!
131"The arts (painting, music, literature, etc.) reveal the otherwise hidden ideas and impulses of a society."
It has been said that art is derived from and at the same time beyond everyday life. In light of this statement, the artist is expected to explore the hidden thoughts of a society and voice the unvoiced for the masses. However, the hidden ideas and impulses of a society are so complex that arts still have its limits. Thus, I partly disagree with the assertion of the speaker.
The long river of history sees how the works of arts mirror the real but hidden ideas of human societies. For example, numerous painters in different styles emerged during the Renaissance, yet most of the splendid works were around the subject of anti-theocracy, and its humanist philosophy was meaning to break the mortification of people's mind and body, which exactly reveal the real underpowered thoughts at that time. During the Second World War, Picasso's work, Guernica, expressed his intense rage against Nazi and reflected the anguished crying of people suffering from the war. He said, Art is a lie that brings us nearer to the truth. Moreover, by a simple glimpse of today's graffiti, or rather, political cartoon, we can find the hidden humor behind some critical issues, which reveal some of the masses' ideas. With regard to the music, its lyrics, melody, and tempo more explicitly and strongly utter the hidden voice of a society. For example, the Black Music, emerging from or influenced by the culture of African Americans, was gradually evolved from the field hollers and work songs of black slaves, which embodied the repressed emotions of slaves and consequently reveal the invisible picture in such a society. Also, rock and roll, in today's society, brings to light many social problems and shout out their feelings towards some hidden social phenomenon.
However, whether arts are in the hands of common people instead of ruling classes is the premise to the mentioned functions of arts. For example, if all the works have to be strictly censored by the government, real arts which reveal the true but dark side of society will sink into obscurity and the mainstream of arts will become tools of the ruling class to present a false picture of peace and prosperity. For example, in Song dynasty in China, the conflicts intensified all around the society, and more political struggles appeared, but some of the literatures in upper class still indulged in luxury and dissipation and exaggeratedly eulogized the glory of the royalty. Similarly, during the "culture revolution" in the late 60's in China, any voice, let alone arts, that did not conform to the main value would be punished, and only those works catering to the so-called right notion would be publicized widely. In such kind of society, arts may not reveal the real hidden ideas but mislead people to some extent.
In addition, as a matter of fact, some of today's arts have become more of merchandise than the real hidden soul of society mixed with so much material and utilitarian things. The works of art should be the products of artists' strong passion and creative impulse, which can be favored and appreciated instead of intentionally obtaining interests. If an artist becomes a merchant mainly focusing on earning money and pleasing certain institutions rather than thinking, discovering, and tasting the hidden impulses of life and society, his works will lose the essence of arts. Accordingly, we can see nothing from such works except for some claptrap to amuse the public.
After all, arts will ever belongs to certain groups of people, no matter how great they are. Although the works can somewhat reveal the hidden thoughts in society, they still have strongly subjective moods, which cannot express the hidden ideas and impulses of a society in an objective way. So, in order to reveal more comprehensive thoughts of a society, more people's voice should be heard.
131"The arts (painting, music, literature, etc.) reveal the otherwise hidden ideas and impulses of a society."
It has been said that art is derived from and at the same time beyond everyday life. In light of this statement, the artist is expected to explore the hidden thoughts of a society and voice the unvoiced for the masses. However, the hidden ideas and impulses of a society are so complex that arts still have its limits. Thus, I partly disagree with the assertion of the speaker.
The long river of history sees how the works of arts mirror the real but hidden ideas of human societies. For example, numerous painters in different styles emerged during the Renaissance, yet most of the splendid works were around the subject of anti-theocracy, and its humanist philosophy was meaning to break the mortification of people's mind and body, which exactly reveal the real underpowered thoughts at that time. During the Second World War, Picasso's work, Guernica, expressed his intense rage against Nazi and reflected the anguished crying of people suffering from the war. He said, Art is a lie that brings us nearer to the truth. Moreover, by a simple glimpse of today's graffiti, or rather, political cartoon, we can find the hidden humor behind some critical issues, which reveal some of the masses' ideas. With regard to the music, its lyrics, melody, and tempo more explicitly and strongly utter the hidden voice of a society. For example, the Black Music, emerging from or influenced by the culture of African Americans, was gradually evolved from the field hollers and work songs of black slaves, which embodied the repressed emotions of slaves and consequently reveal the invisible picture in such a society. Also, rock and roll, in today's society, brings to light many social problems and shout out their feelings towards some hidden social phenomenon.
However, whether arts are in the hands of common people instead of ruling classes is the premise to the mentioned functions of arts. For example, if all the works have to be strictly censored by the government, real arts which reveal the true but dark side of society will sink into obscurity and the mainstream of arts will become tools of the ruling class to present a false picture of peace and prosperity. For example, in Song dynasty in China, the conflicts intensified all around the society, and more political struggles appeared, but some of the literatures in upper class still indulged in luxury and dissipation and exaggeratedly eulogized the glory of the royalty. Similarly, during the "culture revolution" in the late 60's in China, any voice, let alone arts, that did not conform to the main value would be punished, and only those works catering to the so-called right notion would be publicized widely. In such kind of society, arts may not reveal the real hidden ideas but mislead people to some extent.
In addition, as a matter of fact, some of today's arts have become more of merchandise than the real hidden soul of society mixed with so much material and utilitarian things. The works of art should be the products of artists' strong passion and creative impulse, which can be favored and appreciated instead of intentionally obtaining interests. If an artist becomes a merchant mainly focusing on earning money and pleasing certain institutions rather than thinking, discovering, and tasting the hidden impulses of life and society, his works will lose the essence of arts. Accordingly, we can see nothing from such works except for some claptrap to amuse the public.
After all, arts will ever belongs to certain groups of people, no matter how great they are. Although the works can somewhat reveal the hidden thoughts in society, they still have strongly subjective moods, which cannot express the hidden ideas and impulses of a society in an objective way. So, in order to reveal more comprehensive thoughts of a society, more people's voice should be heard.
