Why Is Art Important

Why is art important?

The purpose of my presentation today is to answer the following question: Why is art important? and to show you the influence of art on education.
However, first of all, there is a question What is art? As it is stated by philosopher Veron: "Art is an external manifestation by means of lines, colours, movements, sounds,or words, of emotions felt by man." on the other hand Lars Vilks who has the PhD in history of art claimed that Art cannot be defined. If you are sensitive enough you can feel its presence.
It is pointed out in the article by Robert Vaux on the webpage ehow.com that to some people, art appears very impractical. They don't understand its purpose and while they may feel a given work is "interesting" or "pretty," they fail to grasp why it moves people. Regardless of its exact form, however, art serves as vital nourishment to the human spirit, using it to explore our world and the truths that more practical endeavors can sometimes obscure.
Beauty in and of itself serves as indelible testament to the importance of art. A beautiful painting or song creates a sense of happiness in the viewer, filling his soul with wonder and contentment. Furthermore, such beauty may inspire the observer to have a more positive effect on the world around him, or to seek out similar scenes in the real world to further enrich his life.

Dimitri Tcherbadji believes that art does not exist in the nature; it's always human-made for a very human experience. As mentioned above, art is the relationship between the artist, the object that he or she creates and the audience. But art can change our lives without having to be second to any other purpose. It can alter our moods, thoughts, even our body's internal processes. It is innate and is native only to humans. Many animals can use tools, but none can feel the music like we do. None can appreciate a beautiful piece of art or a photograph quite like a human.

In addition, arts are important also in education. Bob Bryant confirms that evidence from brain research is only one of many reasons education and engagement in fine arts is beneficial to the educational process. The arts develop neural systems that produce a broad spectrum of benefits ranging from fine motor skills to creativity and improved emotional balance. Is the study of fine arts important? They engage many areas of the brain and also have far-reaching effects on the learner’s mind. The arts promote the understanding and sharing of culture. They promote social skills that enhance the awareness and respect of others. The fine arts enhance perceptual and cognitive skills. The study of more than 2000 children found that those in the arts curriculum were far superior in creative thinking, self-concept, problem-solving, self-expression, risk-taking, and cooperation than those who were not. The arts have the capacity to engage everyone. There are no barriers of race, religion, culture, geography, or socioeconomic levels.

The author of the article on the webpage educationfund explains that a strong arts education promotes the skills children need to be successful. Exposure to art education promotes self-directed learning, improves school attendance and sharpens critical and creative skills. In fact, several recent studies have concluded that the creativity and innovation utilized in the artistic process will be highly valued by employers in the coming years.

Elliot Eisner claims in his book called "Why the arts are basic" that perhaps the most fundamental element to education one should consider is the manner in which we perceive and make sense of the world in which we live. An effective education in the fine arts helps students to see what they look at, hear what they listen to, and feel what they touch. Engagement in the fine arts helps students to stretch their minds beyond the boundaries of the printed text or the rules of what is provable. The arts free the mind from rigid certainty. Imagine the benefits of seeking, finding, and developing multiple solutions to the myriad of problems facing our society today! These processes, taught through the study of the arts, help to develop the tolerance for coping with the ambiguities and uncertainties present in the everyday affairs of human existence. There is a universal need for words, music, dance, and visual art to give expression to the innate urgings of the human spirit.

In conclusion, I can agree with the quote from Paul Ostegard that A broad education in the arts helps give children a better understanding of their worl. We need students who are culturally literate as well as math and science literate.