Introduction
Art is an important aspect of our lives that we don’t appreciate as much as we should. It goes far beyond any technique or style, and for each individual, art is a reflection of his or her own unique identity. As a whole, art provides numerous purposes to the community and society. Photography and video art is extremely beneficial to society for more reasons than one. The result of the responsiveness can only lead to a better, more educated society. As individuals get older, they forget to educate their imaginations, and in the process lose the power to see new worlds. It’s sad how individuals simply outgrow something they shouldn’t.
The arts are a major part of our society. Everywhere you go and whomever you may see, all types of things have much to do with art. Without art there is no saying were our society would be today. Without freedom of speech and expression we would live in a communist government and no one would have any rights. Arts are more than just visual experiences to stimulate our mind. They are perfect examples of how we represent and take advantage of our God give rights as Americans.
Visual Art
Visual Art is categorized with items such as painting, photography, or sculpture in an attempt to appeal to the visual sense of a person. Visual Art is also usually in more of a permanent form, except in the case of Ice sculptures. Ice Sculpting is truly an art of its own, and even though this style of art is not permanent, unless a person were to place the item into the freezer, this would still be categorized as visual art. (Rosenblum, 2005, 154-61).
Visual Art is more easily recognized than other forms of art, being able to look at a picture or photograph makes the art more portable. While architecture can be called visual art, the building will only gain the notoriety with the passing of pictures or paintings to gain popularity. Several structures exist which can be classified as visual art, one will be the new World Trade Towers. One of the most famous pictures is the “Mona Lisa”. (Marien, 2002, 87-91) The use of visual art is a method of telling a story outside of that region, being able to interpret the real meaning of daily existence.
Photography
Photography can capture all of the real emotions in life and can pause them in time forever. Pictures let us see what happens in different countries, different people and even lets us see things we would have otherwise never been exposed to. Just think would you ever really know the extent of the Great Depression without pictures, like the one of the mother and child homeless on the street. Also without pictures we would never be able to show our children how wonderful and tall the World Trade Center buildings were. Photography is one of the most real art forms that can be expressed today.
Art is and always will be a major part of our society. No matter what happens in the future, different forms of art will always influence people, places and things. Art is also a great way for everyone to use his or her freedom of expression in a beautiful way. For without art the world would be very dull. (Clement, 2004, 110-12).
The development of photography began at a sluggish rate, taking over a century to make any sort of notable advancement. However, after the invention of the daguerreotype, expansion began to proceed at a highly rapid pace. Photography was the origin of film, as well as motion picture. Which of course were the basis for television and the media, of which we adhere to today? As photography became a more common technology and took part in mass industry an increasing number of people were becoming skeptical of the invention. Today, there are a vast number of people who are still skeptical of the invention and question whether it has resulted positively. The photograph has been an extremely valued invention, by allowing social advancement for minorities, allowing for a more valued news press, and giving artists the chance to steer away from portrait-painting and develop such movements as Impressionism. In general, life as we know it today would not be remotely close to what it is had photography not been invented, and we are able to see this since photography was first generated. It is completely apparent that the United States would not be as developed or as informed, as it is today if it weren’t for the invention of photography.
Works Cited
Clement Cheroux, Andreas Fischer and Pierre Apraxine, Denis Canguilhem, Sophie Schmit, The Perfect Medium: Photography and the Occult, Yale University Press, New Haven and London, 2004: 110-12.
Marien, Mary Warner. Photography: A Cultural History. New York: Harry N. Abrams, Inc., 2002. 87-91.
Rosenblum, Naomi. A World History of Photography. 3rd edition. New York: Abbeville Press, 2005. 154-61.