How Does Art Impact Culture

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Art, unlike other words cannot be characterized by one simple definition; the meaning of art is much more than a surface level interpretation. Over many centuries, art has proved to be a way people can express themselves, plays a role in shaping cultures, and allows for communication through many different ways of expression. Art can either take a lifetime to study or can be as straightforward as graffiti on the side of a popular building. The topic of art has been largely controversial dating back to Mo Tzu, and the wide dispute has only evolved over centuries. There are ways to examine the different realms art touches, and how it has evolved over time. While art is widely discussed in many forms, one thing is for sure, art provides an outlet …show more content…

So the questions become, does art impact culture or does culture impact art? Art and culture are not simple; the relationship between the two is rather abstract, which communicates an intellectual union. For example, art reflects the economic state of a union and the reason behind why the art was created may have been a result of the society or culture in which the art was created. Art motivates or lifts people up in the same way a song can lift spirits or change one’s attitude. In “Patterns of Culture” Ruth Bendicts discusses that in order to understand a culture, one must be able to understand it and look at it as a whole. Specifically, if a person can understand a culture and appreciate why societies do certain things, then this could lead them to gain more value for that culture. In the same way, this relates to art because culture shapes the wealth and symbolism of that era. The impact of art is widely treasured around the world shaping and reflecting on the works from the past such as the Taj Mahal, and the Sistine chapel. If it weren’t for the mutual appreciation between cultures, then art would not be as widely appreciated …show more content…

However only as individuals can we really determine our own definitions of art; it is subjective to each individual to understand their own meanings and interpretations. Leo Tolstoy says it best “Art is not, as the metaphysicians say, the manifestation of some mysterious idea of beauty or God; it is not, as the aesthetic physiologists say, a game in which man lets off his excess of stored-up energy; it is not the expression of man’s emotions by external signs; it is not the production of pleasing objects; and, above all, it is not pleasure; but it is a means of union among men, joining them together in the same feelings, and indispensable for the life and progress toward safety of individuals and of humanity.” There will always be art, however it is only appreciated if it is understood, and accessible to

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