phoenix小组组员5号Issue131习作

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131. "The arts (painting, music, literature, etc.) reveal the otherwise hidden ideas and impulses of a society."
艺术（绘画、音乐、文学等等）揭示了那些隐藏的理念和社会的脉动。

提纲: 基本同意
社会的脉动和隐藏的理念往往和社会当前的主流趋势不完全一致
艺术是揭示社会脉动和隐藏理念的重要手段
另一方面，更多的艺术是代表着社会当前主流的思想

The speaker claims that the arts reveal the otherwise hidden ideas and impulses of a society. While the claim is not impeccable enough, I tend to agree with it.

To begin with, in human society, the hidden idea and impulse is always different from the primary thinking. Although, the significant trends of history, to certain extend, were directly changed by the hidden idea and impulse, it is not used to point out that the hidden idea and impulse was equal to the primary thinking of society in all time. Moreover, in the most time of history, the hidden idea and impulse was weak and discursive, perhaps be totally ignored. For instance, 50 years ago, people who under the threat of Cold War and nuclear arms would never thought that one day, peace and development will be the global theme. In short, unless we find the crucial cue from various aspects, especially become aware of the hidden ideas and impulses of our society, that we also cannot exactly forecast the development of society.

It is accurate to judge the hidden ideas and impulses of a society according to the arts. For example, in contemporary society, we are more sensitive to, and respectful of, the rights and women, homosexuals, and various ethnic and racial groups. This phenomenon is not appeared in a sudden, as early as 40 years ago, the Rock and Roll culture revealed today’s trend. Rock and Roll represented the young people who stand for the viewpoint that more respect to individual’s rights and freedom, more tolerance of society, and more life style be allowed to choose. In that era, the Rock and Roll culture was not accepted by the mainstream society at first, and the masses called the young people as “beat generation”. In fact, more or less, the Rock and Roll culture reflected the tiny trends of society, and has been proved by the reality of today’s society. In conclusion, when faced with the problem of judge the hidden ideas and impulses of society, some artistic work probably provide a positive effect.

Admittedly, I concede that art is a significant representative of the trend of a society. However, most artistic work reveals the primary thinking but not the hidden ideas and impulses. Consider the artistic works around us, most of the works is designed to reflect the primary thinking of society. Today’s pop music is appropriate example. Pop music primary reflect the mainstream society’s emotion and thinking, as well as be popularly accepted by the masses. It is difficult to claim that we can get any hidden ideas and impulses of society from pop music. In addition, in all aspects of arts, the artistic works always reflect the primary thinking but not the hidden ideas and impulses of society.

In sum, when it comes to the hidden ideas and impulses of a society, the art is one of the most significant symbols which should be taken into account. Moreover, for most artistic work, the meaning which be revealed is not the hidden ideas and impulses but the primary thinking of society. In the final analysis, I agree the speaker’s claim to a large degree.