We don’t need art, certainly not in the same way we need air, water, and food. Our survival doesn’t depend on art. However, art enriches us.
Art is subjective. You can take a depiction of a naked woman painted on a highway overpass where motorists turn away their heads in disgust, slap it on a piece of canvas, frame it, and hang it in a museum, where those same people will pay money to nod at it approvingly.
Literature, too, is a form of art. It’s subjective. Any novel is only as good as what its words make happen inside the reader’s head, and no two readers are alike. One reader will swoon over a rich descriptive narrative, while another reader will yawn over it and question whether it was necessary to the story.
Do I need art? No, not really. But my life would be much emptier without it, and that includes my own writing, if I were ever to give up writing novels, memoirs, and short fiction.
We need all forms of art. Most of us probably don’t realize how many forms of art we enjoy every single day... maybe your question was really aimed at something like paintings, pottery, photography, or statuary, as opposed to package design , for instance. Just try to think of a world without any of that art. Try to think of your home or office without ANY art, photography, or music, for instance. No movies, plain packaging, plain mail envelopes, plain dishes, furniture, rugs, yards, bedding, and clothes; plain user interfaces on our devices, and certainly no customizable phone cases, et al. It’s not a world I would be happy in. I need color, non-verbal Design, different shapes, etc in my home, car, yard, and clothing....
Statistically, it’s been proven that kids perform better in school, even, when art is a part of their weekly schedule. Art allows our brains to jump back and forth between the right and left sides, problem solving, conceptualizing, visualizing... we get our bodies involved in art.... our hands in the paint, in the clay it gives us a chance to communicate something without words.... sometimes giving birth to something that words could not.
I suspect that that if you are asking this question, maybe you’ve never “created” much. There’s something invigorating about the creative process that creates art in all of its wonderful forms.. try it sometime. Immerse yourself in creating something... let your brain disengage with the ordinary and maybe you’ll have that “space” to create something extraordinary!
Art is an affirmation of our humanity. Only human beings create art and we did so even before our species could talk. Cave men communicated through art. Do we need art? Without it our lives would be barren.
Need it! In Maslow's hierarchy of needs, art helps with self-actualization. After we have our needs (not wants) for food, shelter, safety, and love met, we need self-esteem and self-actualization. Art plays a role in these.
We all need it! There is so much current science to support the strong connection with ones well being to art whether you are participating in creating art or just viewing art.
Really? REALLY? I guess somebody whose idea of art is only the passe’ framed gallery art could ask THIS question. We don’t NEED to take baths or comb our hair, either (what a capitalist question....🙄)
In a modern world plagued by increasing mental health struggles and in which we spend more time than ever indoors, art is a matter of health. Studies show that pleasant surroundings do have an effect on physical health measures such as heart rate and blood pressure. The best way to take advantage of this is to spend a lot of time outside, but for most of us that's an impossibility. Art can ameloriate the effect of stress and bring joy into our days, and this not only improves our performance in our daily lives, but makes us healthier, happier people. To ignore the very real human need for art and beauty would be erroneous at best and damaging at worst.
Art fuels innovation. Cultures that don’t support Art, have very little to show in scientific achievements. Art in the workplace inspires discussion, discussions lead to better cooperative work environments, which in turn creates better products. Art can redirect ‘at risk’ youths to find fulfillment and pride in themselves, which leads to productivity. So, do we NEED Art?
Yes, humanity absolutely needs art. Art is a part of who we are. The arts do not belong to a chosen few, either. Creativity is a hallmark of our species. From our opposable thumbs to our senses, curiosity, imagination, rhythm and communicative languages, we are built for it.
Think about this — the earliest evidence of recognizable human art is some 40,000 years old, while the earliest evidence of human agriculture is only 10,000 years old. Chronologically speaking, we found art making more important to accomplish than learning how to regularly feed ourselves.
If you’re alive, you’re a creative person whether you typically view yourself that way or not. People sometimes don’t think of themselves as art-makers or as being especially creative … as if art were self-indulgent and not “productive enough” of an activity. Yet, creative expression is vital to have robust health — both physical and mental.
Researcher Brené Brown says “Unused creativity is not benign. It metastasizes. It turns into grief, rage, judgement, sorrow and shame.” And she’s not wrong. Untapped, unexpressed creativity can grow toxic and literally make you sick. Neglecting the artist within will deny oneself one of the most powerful natural medicines of all.
Life is so busy for everyone these days in unprecedented ways. Art is necessary to provide a place for us to reflect, even for just a moment on something the art reminds us about, giving a precious break from the mad rush of everyday life. It nourishes our very souls, both for the creator and the viewer.
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Answers (11-20)
We don’t need art, certainly not in the same way we need air, water, and food. Our survival doesn’t depend on art. However, art enriches us.
Art is subjective. You can take a depiction of a naked woman painted on a highway overpass where motorists turn away their heads in disgust, slap it on a piece of canvas, frame it, and hang it in a museum, where those same people will pay money to nod at it approvingly.
Literature, too, is a form of art. It’s subjective. Any novel is only as good as what its words make happen inside the reader’s head, and no two readers are alike. One reader will swoon over a rich descriptive narrative, while another reader will yawn over it and question whether it was necessary to the story.
Do I need art? No, not really. But my life would be much emptier without it, and that includes my own writing, if I were ever to give up writing novels, memoirs, and short fiction.
Statistically, it’s been proven that kids perform better in school, even, when art is a part of their weekly schedule. Art allows our brains to jump back and forth between the right and left sides, problem solving, conceptualizing, visualizing... we get our bodies involved in art.... our hands in the paint, in the clay it gives us a chance to communicate something without words.... sometimes giving birth to something that words could not.
I suspect that that if you are asking this question, maybe you’ve never “created” much. There’s something invigorating about the creative process that creates art in all of its wonderful forms.. try it sometime. Immerse yourself in creating something... let your brain disengage with the ordinary and maybe you’ll have that “space” to create something extraordinary!
Cultures that don’t support Art, have very little to show in scientific achievements. Art in the workplace inspires discussion, discussions lead to better cooperative work environments, which in turn creates better products.
Art can redirect ‘at risk’ youths to find fulfillment and pride in themselves, which leads to productivity.
So, do we NEED Art?
Yes, humanity absolutely needs art. Art is a part of who we are. The arts do not belong to a chosen few, either. Creativity is a hallmark of our species. From our opposable thumbs to our senses, curiosity, imagination, rhythm and communicative languages, we are built for it.
Think about this — the earliest evidence of recognizable human art is some 40,000 years old, while the earliest evidence of human agriculture is only 10,000 years old. Chronologically speaking, we found art making more important to accomplish than learning how to regularly feed ourselves.
If you’re alive, you’re a creative person whether you typically view yourself that way or not. People sometimes don’t think of themselves as art-makers or as being especially creative … as if art were self-indulgent and not “productive enough” of an activity. Yet, creative expression is vital to have robust health — both physical and mental.
Researcher Brené Brown says “Unused creativity is not benign. It metastasizes. It turns into grief, rage, judgement, sorrow and shame.” And she’s not wrong. Untapped, unexpressed creativity can grow toxic and literally make you sick. Neglecting the artist within will deny oneself one of the most powerful natural medicines of all.