Art, a more abstract than pragmatic expression, in its widest sense, is everywhere, but not its purest and exclusively elevated version. Expressions that go from the massive, to the local expressions. Music, architecture, painting, photography, literature and others have a special use in societies, and the influence that art has on the daily life of the masses and the individual is undeniable. A moldable utility, since, just as we can use art to make a better society, we can also make use of it to the contrary.
On the other hand, it is very complicated to be able to know with certainty how much it can inspire a young person or an older person to expose themselves to a mural, a musical piece, or a literary work, it is simply impossible to know. The governments of the world saw in art an effective way to be able to create the identity of their peoples, to show them principles and values that would lead to the formation of nationalisms, and common identities that took people in different directions.
Art, in itself, is a tool with a great potential, with the ability to create emotions, send messages, form identities, stereotypes, groups and different types of thoughts. It is necessary to mention the way in which works of fiction inspired generations of scientists. Cinema, on the other hand, has exposed us to visions about war, loneliness, emptiness and destruction. Of course, art does not solve these problems, but it is capable of going directly to the consciences of people. However, a problem that you want to expose may become misunderstood, due to its staging, causing the problem that is put on the table ends up being twisted, thus changing the world views that were wanted to expose.
In spite of not being perfect, art is capable of going beyond reason, and going directly to the emotions of people and the masses, can offer a true form of expression to the pains, frustrations and desires of our society, or present attractive collective fantasies that give the masses a meaning for life, no matter how dear or despised they may be.
Imagine everything that could happen if the masses and the individual could not drain the pressures of daily life through art. The cities and their architecture, these masses of great complexities in which animals are stacked, could become a chaos, if you could not drain all hatred, resentment, violence, and dissatisfaction using art, and the spaces where we put ourselves in contact with this one.
Speaking of music, Hip Hop has been a very clear example of what is an expression of art coming from a marginalized group of society, with their longings and frustrations, to reinforce their identity, sometimes even expressing fantasies of power, or social critiques that reaffirm their identity.
On the other hand we have Metal, a musical genre that allows us to express all those dissatisfactions that we have regarding our lives, or society, being an art form that works in most of the time as a way to drain all those demons internal that live in the individual and the masses.
The question itself is not how can we use art positively? rather we should ask ourselves.
What would be of society without art?
We have to understand that art in itself is not bound to be positive or negative, and is also as varied as the cultures of the world, but being a form of expression created by the human being, it can be used for power purposes , so it can be used to attack or damage. Any individual or group that can censor or promote visions through art, can influence the masses, and if we take a look at the last century we can clearly see the power that propaganda has to alter the way of thinking of the masses.
We must also understand that art alone can not save society, but it can keep the masses away from the madness and chaos that confront difficult realities. If we want art to continue to have this capacity, then we must support its freedom, and also the ability of individuals to be moved by a musical piece or to distinguish a propaganda, or idealized vision of nature.
Do you want to support art? Then do art, spread appreciation for it, share music, books, movies, paintings or any other expression of art that has been useful at some point in your life, so other people could find a special meaning with those works that you You have shared with them. And if you do not create art, then support those who do, the identity of an entire society is partly shaped by the emergence of all artistic expression. Until next time!