“The job of an artist,” Jonah Lehrer writes for Psychology Today, “is to take mundane forms of reality—whether a facial expression or a bowl of fruit—and make those forms irresistible to the human brain.”
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Sure, but that's only scratching the surface.
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Sure, but that's only scratching the surface.
Art is an extremely interdisciplinary field, that has the power to shed light + start discussions on social injustices, societal norms, current events, popular culture, etc. while at the same time offering therapeutic/meditative benefits. But why is art considered some strictly confined discipline?? As if all art is made in a vacuum, devoid of the world, people and entities around it that gave it life and a voice. This voice can transcend barriers of language, race, gender, age, nationality. . . . . and so on. Art provides context for viewers/feelers/listeners to relate to and build upon, providing them with a mental nugget to take home, cherish and share. How far just one of these seeds of thought can spread is immeasurable. Often artists have goals of reaching their audience, and if done right, artists have the tremendous ability to allude to pressing matters that our right in front of our faces... Without leading us directly to them. Similarly to the magic of language, art stretches the imagination in mystical ways, providing a much deeper layer of understanding and allowing viewers to directly relate themselves to the work.
It all sounds pretty easy but being an artist is hard. Not in that super meta, "life is so hard," kind of way but really-- how does one successfully target and reach an audience (if that is the goal of the art) ? It takes years and years of crafting and tweaking, but once achieved, I feel that this skill can flourish in all areas of life.
It all sounds pretty easy but being an artist is hard. Not in that super meta, "life is so hard," kind of way but really-- how does one successfully target and reach an audience (if that is the goal of the art) ? It takes years and years of crafting and tweaking, but once achieved, I feel that this skill can flourish in all areas of life.
"Art is the lie that reveals the truth." - Picasso
By pushing or exaggerating what is there, it's easier to decipher what is not. According to studies, when certain characteristics or features are manipulated, the brain can easier decipher what an image is. For example, people often connect names to faces quicker by looking at a caricature of the person, rather than an actual photograph or face. In nature, a similar effect happens to herring gull chicks. Basically, if they see a bird beak they recognize to be "mama," they peck at it frantically for food. Scientists tried to trigger this response with a fake beak and, without surprise, the chicks pecked at it. They used a wooden stick with a singular red dot that resembles the markings of adult herrings. They exaggerated this marking by adding a few more red dots + the responses of the chicks were intensified. Lehrer relates these abstractions in art and nature to a peak-shift effect. I'm not a Psychologist so this doesn't make complete sense to me in terms of Psychology, but as an artist, I can understand how drawing these comparisons have allowed us to connect two "opposing" branches in academia and find answers to the deeper mysteries of the natural world. Check out Lehrer's full article, here.
But why then, is art and creativity restricted to visual art (in the mainstream mindset), rather than the various other fields it can be applied to?
According to Law Street Media, the involvement of arts education in school curriculum actually increases students' performance across the board. "Students who took four years of art classes scored 91 points higher on their SAT exams than those who took half a year or less... Students who regularly participated in art classes were four times more likely to be recognized for their achievements." The facts don't lie, it's proven that children who are exposed to art classes in elementary and high school are more likely to do well, graduate and stay out of trouble. Art education is also proven to inspire students' lives, spark creativity and encourage strong motor skills. Click here to read the full story.
Opinions aside, art is proven to enhance the lives of all human beings, so why are art education budgets the first to get cut in schools across the country? Follow this link to listen to an entertaining TED talk by Sir Ken Robinson's on why schools should be nurturing creativity rather than undermining it.
So, are artists truly successful? Or is the "art world" some bubble that traps you and steals your soul . . . ?
Artists are constantly evolving beings, swaying/ moving / adjusting with the changing times. You never arrive at success and there is no "happy ending," just a continuous flow of joy, confusion and humility. It's constant, ongoing + ever changing.
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But why then, is art and creativity restricted to visual art (in the mainstream mindset), rather than the various other fields it can be applied to?
According to Law Street Media, the involvement of arts education in school curriculum actually increases students' performance across the board. "Students who took four years of art classes scored 91 points higher on their SAT exams than those who took half a year or less... Students who regularly participated in art classes were four times more likely to be recognized for their achievements." The facts don't lie, it's proven that children who are exposed to art classes in elementary and high school are more likely to do well, graduate and stay out of trouble. Art education is also proven to inspire students' lives, spark creativity and encourage strong motor skills. Click here to read the full story.
Opinions aside, art is proven to enhance the lives of all human beings, so why are art education budgets the first to get cut in schools across the country? Follow this link to listen to an entertaining TED talk by Sir Ken Robinson's on why schools should be nurturing creativity rather than undermining it.
So, are artists truly successful? Or is the "art world" some bubble that traps you and steals your soul . . . ?
Artists are constantly evolving beings, swaying/ moving / adjusting with the changing times. You never arrive at success and there is no "happy ending," just a continuous flow of joy, confusion and humility. It's constant, ongoing + ever changing.
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