Artists in Society: The Bare Facts
Let’s get straight to the point: Artists and their art play a hugely positive role in molding society’s culture.
To understand how artists do this, let us go to the generally accepted functions of art in society:
- Art sold manifests the beauty of the world that it portrays.
- Art should be delightful to the senses, the emotions, and the soul (which is better defined as the “psyche”).
- Art should reflect the realities of the human condition, which can be either personal or political.
For the latter, I think that one of the most acceptable working definitions for the matter is explained by British writer George Orwell as follows: “Desire to push the world in a certain direction, to alter other people’s idea of the kind of society that they should strive after.”) Yes, especially in the multicultural, interconnected, and globalized context of the 21st century, I believe that art should address the above concerns and that art should serve as a mirror of the times.
Going to the artist’s part, it can be thus argued that art should not just be done for art’s sake, but rather, art should have the ability to express the truths of human existence in a way that influences people for the better. This can happen in many ways, whether through expressing it through the art itself, being active in civil society, or through personal or institutional philanthropy, among many other choices out there.
One can start with someone like BTS: While they may be considered to be the quintessential boy band in the West, they actually touch on different personal and societal issues, which include touching on how kids are forced to give up their dreams in order to appease their parents, how the education system turned kids into automatons without creativity, and how consumerism is destroying the fabric of our society, among other topics. They can be considered as a sample of the artist influencing people through their art in a positive way, and indeed, the Korean band has done it time and again — one does not need to go far and see how huge the global fandom is; they just get the record sales that they want, in the way they want it, and the timeline that they put it in.
The music industry plays a huge part in the lives of individuals by the sheer existence of the soundscapes that they create. We listen to them, patronize the sounds that we want, and we even shape our lives according to the music that we listen to — yes, this is the case without integrating visual cues and words into the music itself.
There’s no doubt that in many countries worldwide, people’s lives have been defined by music at different levels. Ibiza? You all know what I’m talking about. Russia? Go to any proper-looking city, and you’ll spot an opera. Then you’ve got the throat-singers of Mongolia, the percussion beats of Africa, the ensemble melodies of Southeast Asia, and so on.
All of these trends and genres have played a role in defining our society in their own unique ways. They facilitated and cultivated movement, creativity, and freedom of expression — thus allowing people today to enjoy the same in this age (though it can be argued that the “movement” part is not anymore physical, but “digital” due to programs such as Spotify, iTunes, SoundCloud, YouTube, etc.)
Music sets one’s mood, stimulates the mind, induces an emotional response, enhances physical coordination and expression, and gives an avenue to escape from everyday life, as well as a different way to express one’s own capabilities.
By examining the above-mentioned truths regarding music, one can see the outsize role that it plays, both in our personal and social lives.
Going on, you’ve got people like Bob Dylan, who is considered to be one of the greatest songwriters of all time and a Nobel Laureate, writing songs such as The Death of Emmitt Till” in 1962 (which is about a black teen who white men brutally murdered for allegedly whistling at a White woman) and “Only a Pawn in Their Game,” which was about a civil rights activist named Medgar Evers.
Then, there’s Hozier’s “Take Me to Church,” which is basically one of the breakout protest anthems in recent years. By incorporating horrifying black-and-white video footage from anti-gay demonstrations in Russia in their music video, it ensured that it will gain prominence among people who are closely related to the situation back there. What’s interesting is that the composition itself doesn’t sound like what most expect from protest songs; it has the makings of a pop song, it is accessible and melodious, but at the same time politically resounding in a way that pretty much all other popular record-breaking songs were not.
Cited in an article for Mic, he was asked by the New York Times whether he’s trying to open the scene to accommodate more revolutionary undertones.
Hozier had a handy answer: “That would be beyond me. I write things that I feel strongly about.” He does agree that the vast majority of music that is considered to be popular nowadays is empty and meaningless. “That’s reflective of our culture and of society.” he said. “I don’t know if I can change it.”
Yes, artists do indeed notice the greater underlying issues in their respective societies, and aren’t afraid to incorporate it if it feels personal to them. Meanwhile, in an article for art website Nspirement, art director Kara Lysandra Ross mentioned the following:
“Artists play one of the most important roles in our society. They can reshape our world into a better place, where once again freedom of thought and real communication can be disseminated through art and the universal language of realism. With diligence and effort, a picture is once again worth a thousand words, versus needing a thousand words to explain it.”
The artist may have talked here about visual arts, but she might just as well have been talking about music as well.
Do you think artists have any measure of influence in society? If yes, can it influence society towards the better?
Model: https://www.nspirement.com/2018/11/04/artists-and-their-role-in-society.html
References:
https://www.orwellfoundation.com/the-orwell-foundation/orwell/essays-and-other-works/why-i-write/
https://www.thecollector.com/how-to-become-a-successful-artist/
https://reddotblog.com/5-strategies-successful-artists-follow-to-thrive-in-their-careers/
https://www.mic.com/articles/106494/these-are-13-best-protest-artists-of-our-generation