A World Without Art
Art is more than just a simple painting on a canvas or a rock sculpted into a statue. Art tells a story and shows the artist’s thoughts through the process of creating it. People use art to express themselves and their ideas. It is like writing their feelings down, but instead they use a paintbrush instead of a pencil. Not all art has to be meaningful. It is used as a coping mechanism, stress reliever, a hobby or just for fun. Rhys Southan is an artist, himself, and a journalist, and he believes life without art would be unlivable. A group he is apart of called the Effective Altruism Movement does not agree with Southan at all. They think that art is pointless in the world and people should be paying more attention to the people who are suffering. I believe the EA’s are totally wrong. Art has so much meaning and it is a big part of our history to just throw it all away. Titus Kaphar is a artist as well and he thinks art tells a story of our nation and we must not erase it. Kaphar and Southern share similar opinions of art but also, at the same time, they have opposite feelings about the topic. Art has many perks with helping the humans mind and is used as a good stress reliever. Despite the EA’s argument, art is a self-indulgent privilege and it is better to view art as a necessity.
Titus Kaphar has a unique perspective about art. He looks at art in ways that no man has ever before. What got Kaphar so into art was the way the past history portrays the lives of African and Native Americans. One day he took his two sons to the Natural History museum in New York. At this museum is a big statue of Teddy Roosevelt. Teddy Roosevelt sits on his horse, proud, sitting up straight and charging forward. Next to him on both sides are a African American and a Native American. Kaphar’s son asks “how come he gets to ride while they have to walk?”. This question really stumped Kaphar and got him thinking. Why is this sculpture outside of the Natural History Museum when it is so unfair and wrong? Instead of him thinking this statue should be removed he thinks of a better idea. He states that we must not erase this history but amend it.
Kaphar wants to change it and make art that is honest. He wants to show that this is where we were, but this is where we are right now. If we can do that, then that will help us understand where we are going. Art is a visual language and has meaning and a story behind each and every painting. Kaphar is using his talent and creating a totally new look on the past paintings and making them more fair and honest. With his paintings he takes a picture of a white family and perhaps their slave and instead of the white family being the main topic in the picture he makes that change. He takes white paint and paints all over the white family and he leaves the slave untouched. The painting transforms into a totally new picture. Now the slave is the main focus while the other people are faded out and you don’t see their fancy clothings or their nice jewelry they own. This is exactly what Kaphar wanted. He wanted this piece to show this is where we once were in history, but know we are here and that is not what our Nation is all about. Kaphar uses his ideas and passion for art and this shows that more people should too. If someone has something they believe in, a good way to express it or show it is by creating it in an art form. You can create something beautiful, meaningful, and important for the world.
In Rhys Southan’s essay Is Art a Waste of Time he talks about his opinions of art and the roles art play in everyday life. Southan is part of a group called the “Effective Altruism” who has a lot of different beliefs and ideas about art. The Effective Altruism believes that people who spend their time creating art are not making an impact in the world and don’t make enough money to feed the homeless therefore it is not worth pursuing. The Effective Altruism is not the only group of people that share these beliefs. An philosopher named Peter Singer published essay that states, “Suppose you saw a child drowning in a pond, would you jump in and rescue her even if you hadn’t pushed her in? Even if it meant ruining your clothes? It would be highly controversial to say “no”- and yet most of us manage to ignore those dying of poverty and preventable disease surround us.” (435). Singer gives a good example but I don’t think we can look at the world like this. There is going to be people struggling no matter how much people donate and art is not the reason for it at all.
The EA’s believes art is pointless and if it does not help anyone then why have it. Artists do not contribute to the people in need and don’t help the suffering. There main idea is “that the only good that counts is what you accomplish over and above what the next person would have done in your place.” (435) Meaning that if you are not the best of the best and the one making a lot of money and donating that money to the greater good, then you are doing what you are supposed to. And for those who are not the best of the best and don’t make a lot of money to help the world then you are worthless and should find a different job to pursue that actually benefits in the world. Southan agrees and disagrees with the Effective Altruism opinions, but mostly just trying to put their opinions into view. Overall he believes art is too important to just throw away and it is more meaningful than money and donations. Southan tries to prove that art has a major role in our society even though it might not be the most effective way to do good for others.
Southan’s and Kaphar’s opinions on art are similar in some ways. Kaphar believes that our nation’s culture and values are very important in arts history. The past was very harsh but he thinks the paintings and sculptures tell an important story and they should remain but it should be amended. The past history should not be erased because it is crucial for our knowledge and to show how far we have come as a nation. This connects with Southans question if art has a place in the world, because it represents our history and values. I believe that without art and its history we would be lost. Art is meaningful and tells a story and speaks the truth. It is crucial for artists to continue making art so we can look back at our past and see how life was once before and learn from it. The act of making art is beautiful thing and you should never feel like art is a pointless.
I have shared some of Kaphars, Southan and the Effective Altruisms opinion on art but I haven’t shared mine. To me I am not the most artistic person. I can not paint or draw for the life of me but I do enjoy looking at art and attempting to create it. When I try to put the Effective Altruisms thoughts about art in my life it’s hard to imagine. I truly cannot imagine the world without art. Art tells a story of our past and we can use art to tell the story of our present. Just because art doesn’t gain someone 1,000 dollars each project it doesn’t mean it is worthless. Art is not about the money. It’s about expressing one’s feelings and emotions. Art is proven to help people mentally and physically. It is proven that it can make people live a healthier lifestyle and to overall be healthier human beings. I believe that even Kaphar used art as a mechanism to express his emotions and doing this he created something new in our history that really tells a story.
Art has many benefits in the world. Creating art helps relieve stress. Activities like painting, drawing, sculpting and many more hobbies can lower your stress levels and leave you feeling clear and calm. While someone is creating art it provides a distraction giving your brain a break from your usual thoughts. Leonardo da Vinci said, “Painting embraces all the ten functions of the eye; that is to say, darkness, light, body and color, shape and location, distance and closeness, motion and rest.” Art is a type of meditation and it trains you to concentrate and pay more attention to yourself and the environment. Art also increases brain connectivity and plasticity. Creating art has been proven to increase psychological resilience, resistance to stress and stimulates communications and change throughout your lifetime.
This just shows how crucial art is in the world. It impacts individuals to become less stress and helps you become a better student. It is not all about money and life’s too short to only do things for money. It’s time for people to realize there is more to life then all of that. People should be able to do the things they love and if art is part of that do it. Titus Kaphar expresses his passion for art and tells a story with each painting. Without art he would not be able to do what he loves. Kaphar just wants to embrace art and make it into a more powerful message. Just like Kaphar, Rhys Southan would not be who he is without art as well. Southan loves to write and says he is not ready to ever give that up. The world without art would be a ugly place and I am very grateful we have it. It truly does have a great impact on people and the world.
