[ISSUE 131] by Cherish

kidloveUID: 2814224

TOPIC: ISSUE131 - "The arts (painting,music, literature, etc.) reveal the otherwise hidden ideas and impulses of asociety."
WORDS: 610
TIME: 01:30:00
DATE: 2011/2/5 17:01:58

In the statement, the author asserts thatdifferent forms of arts can demonstrate the society's hidden ideas andimpulses. While this assertion has its own advantage, it fails to differentiatesome subtle distinctions. Different forms of arts have their own characters andduties out of which illustrate values and ideas of the society.
Let's first take literature for instance.We all know that literature has long been the mirror of a society, those greatwriters, possessing a sensitive heart and extraordinary talented mind, canalways perceive the impulses of a society whether it is a revolutionary orproblem one. They observe, meditate, and then write down their feelings andspeculations. Here is a case in point: the political fiction 1984 of GeorgeOrwell. In the novel, he describes a society under intense totalitarianism, inwhich everyone is deprived from liberal thought and once generates will becondemned to death, meanwhile individualism is banned and strictly controlledand under firm surveillance of Big Brother. Although it is a fiction, thecontent which Orwell depicts is out of his sensitive observation and deepthought of the situation of the society. Those descriptions of totalitarianismare just like predictions which have been verified during following decades.Another example is the Divina Commedia of Dante. It reveals real lives and apolitically revolutionary and constant-changed society in the process of Italyfrom Middle Ages to Modern Times through descriptions of hundreds of people,hence visualizes a new mind generated in a new age.
As for the paintings and painters, it seemsthat those masterpieces of medieval times are more of illustration of popularideas and values of the society than today's. During the time of Renaissance inabout 14th century, most of paintings are created in accordance with certainChristian theme. The theme of the society are reflected in the paintings whichtry to describe deities as common as ordinary people who have actual emotionand flesh- they are no longer sitting up high instead become gentle and real.Another approval is the famous Guernica of Picasso. This painting was finishedduring the Civil War of Spain and everyone was under huge horror and conflictsat that time. The painting shows the tragedies of war and the suffering itinflicts upon individuals, particularly innocent civilians with only black andwhite color. It becomes a perpetual reminder of the tragedies of war and anembodiment of peace; it as well helped bring the Spanish Civil War to theworld's attention.
However, most paintings in recent centurieshave been quite different. Van Gough, for example, who is the most influentialpost-impressionist painter and became famous with his vivid colors andemotional impact after his death. Most of his works are the very reflection ofhis own thoughts and feelings to the world than ideas of the current socialsituation. Another one is the traditional Chinese painting. It is characterizedby drawing with brush dipped in black or colored ink and with the sametechnique of calligraphy. The paintings are usually consisted of landscapes,mountains, animals as big as tigers and as small as dragonflies. One can almostnever perceive the idea of a society instead of the ambition or emotion of thepainter himself, for the content is derived from just one's inner feelings andthoughts, that it only reveals personal interest and fond of nature orcharacteristics of modesty and probity. In all these cases, it appears that theart demonstrates personal feelings not the society's idea.
In conclusion, different art forms canprovide various results according to different characters and responsibilitythe artists take, which can differ from expressing a persona emotion torevealing hidden ideas and impulses of a society. Thus we cannot draw a hastygeneralization of distinctive art forms and content they carry.