ART

Art is the collective physical manifestation of man’s intangible aspects. Though it be dance, song, painting or sculpture; the center of it is the individual and his skills in presenting and sharing to others, his perception of himself and the world around him. In other words, the artist becomes the interpreter of his time. Thus, I agree with the proposition.

First, Art is a social movement. It is common knowledge that society controls the definitions of what is acceptable and what is deviant. This is also true within the realms of art. For example, the artist Van Gogh was never appreciated during his time for the reason that his painting style was deviant to the era’s status quo. However, with the present movement against classical art, interest for Van Gogh’s work has peaked.

Most artists would never consider themselves as political. Yet, from what I have learned from postcolonial discourse, everything is political. Referring to what I said earlier, art is a product of man, and man is the product of his times. So basically, art reflects to some certainty (critics abhor art that carries an obvious political tone, calling it as propaganda) a principle—may it be religious, artistic, social, etc.—that aims in undermining a contradicting principle.

Finally, art mirrors the economic conditions of the era it was created. During the renaissance period, the explosion of Art having a detailed and opulent style in Italy was a reflection of the said country’s success in foreign trade and transportation.   

Credit:ivythesis.typepad.com