Thursday, December 29, 2011

Fireside Manifesto #3

Friends,

We didn't solve anything in the last post, but that's ok. Let's switch now from what Art is, to what Art does.

Art acts as a medium for expression. As in individual activity, it helps people understand themselves and the world. As a communal activity, it is a medium of communication. Just like any other form of communication, writing or speaking or body language, it can have a wide range of effects, and has its own strengths and weaknesses.

Eliciting a response is an important goal for a piece of artwork. Art can shock people, make them think, disgust them, and inspire them. Sometimes it makes people realize that there is beauty in the world, or reminds them of what is ugly. It can tell us stories. It can give us new perspectives. Sometimes, it tells us how we should live our lives. It can even change the way we think.

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