What is art for?

Historically, we know that art has served a variety of functions , from recording important events, communicating when language and writing were still inaccessible to most people, indoctrinating through the monopoly of information, or even alienating in the name of entertainment through the cultural industry. Knowing all this from books, theories, reports, and studies, we can understand some of its evolution, but it seems that a big question still remains: what is the role of art today ?

Before answering this question (if it even has a single answer), I think we should first define what art actually is . This is a long-standing discussion, and many theorists from different perspectives have their own opinions on the subject. Since my goal here is not to delve into this question, I will consider art to be whatever the artist says it is.

Even though they recognize the existence of art as a part of society, many people still think it serves little purpose and end up belittling the work of those who create or appreciate it—and here I'm not just talking about museum art, but also street art, music, illustrations, poetry, photography, dance, theater, and many others. I personally see four major functions of art beyond those already mentioned historically, perhaps because I was encouraged to explore the medium from a young age. They are:

1. Expression

Whether the viewer likes a work or artist or not, art serves as a form of expression as much as words would. People who might otherwise have had their voices heard have been able to express themselves differently through art, just as others have come to identify and accept feelings they didn't know they had through contact with others' art.

For example, I'm terrible at talking to people in real life. I'm the kind of introvert who stumbles over my words and is always more concerned with what people think of me than with what I'm actually saying. When it comes to my art, however, even if I'm indirectly talking to other people, I'm talking to myself at my own pace, and this allows me to be completely honest. This is so true that many people have ended up connecting with me and getting to know me in real life through my illustrations and videos.

On the other hand, far from being a question of personal organization or personality, groups and minorities that previously had their voices silenced (notice how here I imply actions of a third party over the subject) also found ways to say "hey, I'm here and this is how I feel" and gradually open up space in society so that one day everyone will be heard and seen in the same way, regardless of color, income, nationality, sexual orientation or religion.

2. Escape

To introduce this topic I could not fail to quote a phrase:

"Art exists so that reality does not destroy us" ( Friedrich Nietzsche)

With the chaos that surrounds our world, art can serve as an escape for both the artist and its consumer . Through it, we can transport ourselves to places we've never been, experience things that don't belong to us, and, for a few moments, forget the often irrelevant problems that end up consuming our lives.

Coming into contact with art or surroundings surrounded by it is like breathing fresh air after a long suffocation. It's a place of freedom where you can be and feel as you wish without being judged or having to consider major responsibilities before expressing yourself (if you cry in public spaces, for example, you risk being ridiculed).

It is precisely by taking us to places that are not part of what is familiar to us and by allowing us to feel things that we may have been repressing that art can perform a third function:

3. Change

Through the new perspectives we gain by trying to absorb another person's discourse more directly (listening to the artist/group through the work), we begin to see the world, ourselves, and others in a new way.

And if it's by leaving the island that we can see the island, it's through contact with so many other realities and forms of expression that we gain the tools necessary to bring about change. As John Butler said:

"Art changes people and people change the world."

From this point on, we began to see art as much more than entertainment, goodness, and beauty. It became something much deeper, something that impacts different people in ways we might not even understand now, but which could be decisive for the future of our society and our planet.

4. Memory

Even though nowadays there are infinite ways to record memories, it is through art that we can best remember people, thoughts and feelings (remembering that art also involves photography, poetry, etc...).

As Alain de Botton and John Armstrong said in their book "Art as Therapy",

" Art helps us fulfill a task of central importance in life: preserving the things we love after they are gone."

From a global historical perspective, we can also think about how much we know about our ancestors precisely because of the art and expressions of each era, and how much we are leaving behind so that those who come after us will remember that we were also here.

Art is what you make of it

Even though these four functions are quite clear to me, I can't completely disagree with those who say art serves no purpose, nor can I say that these functions will be seen the same way by everyone. If art takes different forms depending on what we do with it, for some to say that art does nothing for them at that moment is nothing but the truth.

What we have to keep in mind, however, is that art does indeed do something for many, many people , and for that to happen we just need to stop and listen to what it has to say (even without words) and let it transform us in the purest form of magic.

With love,
Re