Introduction
Art, which can be traced back to the very beginning of human civilization, reflects society. However, the emergence and development of new art forms are a response to changing needs and values at a particular time. New and transformed forms of art, in turn, impact society’s values and needs.
Thus, art arises under the influence of society and, at the same time, has the power to influence it. New and diverse forms of art influence society and can be an engine of change. In today’s world, art is integral to the life of society, often being a form of activism and a powerful statement to a broad audience.
How Art Reflects and Influences Society
In the modern world, art is becoming one of the ways of public expression, which puts artists in the position of simultaneous creators and activists. Art is becoming an inherent part of modern social life, which indicates that its meaning has been transformed with the development of human civilization. Art becomes a way to convey an important message that can change the state of things or the way many people see the world around them.
For example, the movement against the HIV epidemic used the collective slogan “Silence = Death”, laconic posters, and artistic performances to draw attention to the problem, becoming “a new paradigm to rethink artistic activism” (Desai 273). This helped to draw attention to the depressing state of affairs, enlighten people, and get the state to take action. At the same time, protests of this kind can be recognized as an independent form of art and an effective method of social change. Thus, art is integral to the process of social change.
Art is a solvency representation of new ideas, which subsequently become part of public understanding. Art is sensitive to change, so the artist is often the first to notice new phenomena that must be given creative form to address a large audience. This happened with the song “Big Yellow Taxi”: “The song was written in the 1960s during the height of the environmental movement” (Johnson 1). Mitchell felt the need to perpetuate the idea that planet Earth is the only home for human civilization. Thus, art is an established form that allows one to convey new, potentially revolutionary ideas and fix them in the public mind.
The significance of art for human civilization cannot be overestimated; it is part of the daily life process. Due to its importance, many people listen to art; it is noticeable and discussed. Since art in the modern world is accessible to everyone, it is predominantly public. For example, public works by the anonymous artist Banksy draw attention to areas where military conflicts occur, “gaining worldwide attention in general and social media” (Hutter 14).
Such artistic statements influence the public due to the familiarity with the presence of art in human life. Art influences society and the development of human civilization, and it can provoke change. However, these changes are more of an evolution than a revolution since art places the right thoughts in people’s minds, which can appear after a while.
Conclusion
In conclusion, art can influence society and potentially promote change. Examples of this influence are new forms of art aimed at publicly conveying a position on socially significant issues. At the same time, art brings changes that are not revolutionary but evolutionary. Art is a phenomenon that reflects social development, and it can intervene in it, rooting the useful thoughts in people’s minds and raising awareness of significant events and processes.
Works Cited
Desai, Dipti. “Social Justice – Looking Forward: Art and Activism: Moving between and beyond Aesthetic Objects to Organizing.” Art, Culture, and Pedagogy, edited by Dustin Garnet and Anita Sinner, Brill, 2019, pp. 273-282.
Hutter, Michael. “Three Views of a Saleroom. Valorization in and Valuation of Visual Artworks by (Mostly) Watteau, Altman and Banksy.” Journal for Art Market Studies, vol. 5, no. 1, 2021, pp. 1-15. Web.
Johnson, Taylor. “Big Yellow Taxi”, n.d., pp.1-2.