Arts and Humanities in a Changing World What are arts and humanities? Simply stated, they distinguish us as human beings from the rest of beasts. The human race alone has been molded and shaped throughout centuries by looking at the intriguing things around them, or the beautiful concepts inside of them and expressing them in the form in a piece of art. But how do they really affect our daily lives as it is today. To a certain extent, we cannot fully appreciate what role arts and humanities plays in daily life, until we see the consequences of a generation without it.
Arts and Humanities in a Changing World What are arts and humanities? Simply stated, they distinguish us as human beings from the rest of beasts. The human race alone has been molded and shaped throughout centuries by looking at the intriguing things around them, or the beautiful concepts inside of them and expressing them in the form in a piece of art. But how do they really affect our daily lives as it is today. To a certain extent, we cannot fully appreciate what role arts and humanities plays in daily life, until we see the consequences of a generation without it. Humanities define us as the human race, and the condition and quality of being human. Humanities opened up critical branches of knowledge from philosophy, literature, art, to liberal arts and understanding of the human thought.
The humanities have connected people from all different backgrounds, for example many people in India love watching American films, and, accordingly, many Americans enjoy foreign film. It is not just through film that people from different cultures can connect, it is through literature, music, and other forms of art. People of different ages can share the same interests, political views, and opinions. All of these commonly held notions can be expressed through their views of the arts and humanities that surround them. People of different centuries in time have been connected through the arts and humanities. For example, music has evolved greatly over time as more and more cultural diversity, technology, and publicity is integrated.
The Essay on Art and Human Nature
When discussing art it has continuously been examined how much it is applied to human nature. In The Art Instinct by Denis Dutton he spend an entire chapter discussing the colorations between the two. Art can be seen in human nature through its history, it’s comparison to language, and its creation from humans through genetics and their tendencies. Language has always been considered a part of ...
Some buildings that are built today have elements of history in them, for example Las Vegas just wouldn’t be the same without the various historical and modern art samplings that is presented in that atmosphere. Imagine yourself living in a world without sounds, colors, shapes, or other elements that affect our sense of beauty. Even more realistic, imagine yourself living in a world without contemporary paintings, sculptures, theater, pop concerts, and film. All of these were only possible because art has long developed its tradition in the history of humanity.
Mankind would not know his neighbor if these connecting elements of art were taken away. Almost everything that surrounds us is a form of art. Our feelings and emotions would have no way of being expressed if it were not for the beauty and art that is language, poetry, song, painting, etc. Mother nature herself is a work of art.
She presents her works through flowers, trees, animals, even human beings themselves are forms of art. The absence of arts and humanities would bring alienation culturally, economically, and socially. Karl Marx, an economic and political philosopher, simply states “Religious alienation as such occurs only in the sphere of consciousness, in the inner life of man, but economic alienation is that of real life… It therefore affects both aspects.” Alienated man is also alienated from the human community, his social life.
Communication or any contact from another human is cut off. He lives in his own world and feels comfort only at home where nobody can bother him or hurt him. Alienation causes emptiness, separation, madness, insanity, lunacy, and above all the withdrawing and estrangement of our very affections. Our connection with community, society, and man are shattered through our own creation of alienation. But such unconceivable ideals will never exist because we have arts and humanities.
The Essay on Art of the Western World
The chosen work is a statue of Dionysos leaning on a female figure. This is a Roman copy of the original 4th century B. C. Greek statue. The statue is entitled “Hope Dionysos” after its former owner, Thomas Philip Hope. It was a Gift of The Frederick W. Richmond Foundation. The original statue was made of bronze and it is not certain if the woman was included. It is believed that it may have been ...
The roots of arts and humanities have evolved greatly from generation to generation. Arts and humanities though, will never be seen as “a great thing” which got us to our current state as we are. They are taken for granted by many people, which go about their daily lives and this will not change any time soon. We are still in an evolving state that will lead to more entertaining and amusing kinds of art than plain sculptures and paintings. A consequence of a generation without arts and humanities is an unclear and unpleasant picture. Just a little appreciation and understanding of arts and humanities will go a long way and would make us feel fortunate to have what we have..
