It is not difficult to find cases that support Kraft’s theory. In 1940, four teenagers discovered a cave in Lascaux, France where drawings of bulls and horses have been miraculously preserved. The drawings were 17,000 years old. They are widely admired. This seems to suggest that Kraft was right.
Yet many people look down on the arts (not just painting, but literature, dance, movies, theater) because they are impractical. What purpose do they serve? Why should college students be required to take courses in the humanities which have nothing at all to do with the jobs many will eventually take after graduation? Why should people attribute so much value to the paintings of bulls?
The film below contains footage of the Chauvet cave, which was discovered in 1994.
I think being required to take humanities is an excellent thing. Old art like the buffalo painting isn't just a painting or drawing or sculpture; it's history. Every civilization had their different types of artworks that showed who they were as a people and what kind of lives they lived. History isn't just something that happened and is gone. It's what got us to where we are today. Everything that ever happened in the past led to the here and now and it's so important to learn about how others lived because it opens our minds to so many things and one of the most interesting ways we learn about all of that is through art.
ReplyDeletePeople are preserved through the things that they leave behind, along with any type of art that they produced. Those who leave behind timeless novels, artworks, or the like are revered and idolized, while those of us who leave behind nothing more than a vague impression on those whom we’ve touched are simply forgotten with the time. Do you really think that we’d remember Shakespeare after all of these years had his plays not been preserved? What about Dante, Van Gogh, or even Poe? Would anyone remember any of these revered artists had their works not been preserved or would their work simply become a nameless novelty? The opportunity to take humanities classes although they may not pertain to our major or future careers allows students to expand their minds through the study of civilizations and peoples who have passed. As Kaitlyn said, art is history and without it we would have not gotten to where we are today.
ReplyDeleteI think it is a common misconception that art is meant only to entertain. I agree with Kaitlin on the idea that art is history. It is a piece of history that can entertain but also show a unique perspective, give insight, cause curiosity; the list goes on and on. College students should definitely be required to take humanities classes regardless of what their major or intended field of study is. The humanities, as stated above, not only include painting but involve dance, movies, literature, and theatre. Through watching plays and movies we can learn morals. By reading literature we are presented with themes. When we look at a painting we are analyzing someone’s point of view. These morals, themes, and point of views are what make the humanities important. They teach us about history, human nature, and self expression. Works of art such as the drawings in the Chauvet caves are valuable not only because of their age and the fact that they come from the past, but also because they give a glimpse of what the people where like and make us ask questions such as, why did they draw these animals? Studying the humanities will help students become well rounded because they will be introduced to new ideas and perspectives that will make them think which is important in any career.
ReplyDeleteArts serve as a mean of communication and emotional expression. Humanities focus on the inner human, not outward appearances. This is why it is so important for students to study it. The subject helps students realize the depth and complication of the human mind; they learn that the world does not revolve around immaterial things that will not last time. The painting of the bulls was created long ago, but it still exists. The kids who drew the image are insignificant, but the image is an expression of what they were feeling at the moment, of what was on their mind. Any picture is important because a tree is not drawn simply to be a tree; the tree is drawn because it had meaning at the time. Everything in life has a reason, and the tree was example of a reason existing.
ReplyDeleteArt is a way for people to express themselves in a way that no other subject can. Someone cannot show how they think of a matter through a mathematical equation or scientific theory. Through means of painting, music, literature, and all other art forms one person can convey their inner feelings to another in any style they wish. This helps capture what sensations and emotions we are experiencing as we live our lives in our era. Therefore our art can create benchmarks that reflect anything about the human race. I agree with everyone above that a humanities course would be beneficial to many regardless of one’s major.
ReplyDeleteMany people think that the arts are not practical, and in a sense, they are right. The arts don't make sure people have food, or make sure people are healthy, or fix people's cars. However, the arts have their importance. Just as we have been discussing in class, the ability to understand our emotions and exercise creative intelligence is what makes us human. At a glance, art appears to be nothing more than colors, lines, words, or notes on a page strategically placed to achieve a certain sound. But in looking at what drives the creation of these arts, we uncover something much deeper. Practically every work of art has a story behind it. When you look at a painting, or listen to a piece of music, you respond emotionally whether you realize it or not. The arts are expressions of what lies within us. They are proof of our humanity. Our capacity to create art is proof of our complexity as intellectual beings. It shapes the way we think, and can even affect areas of science. The era known as the renaissance was ushered in with a change of art styles, and a change in the way people viewed humanity. It was this cultural change that made it possible for discoveries such as Galileo observing that the earth was not the center of the universe. Art is the one of the biggest factors in shaping our culture and our views. And without culture, without expression, without creation, what would make us human?
ReplyDeleteOverall, the conclusion that our civilization now will be judged by the quality of our art some time in the future is quite correct. We judge how intelligent a civilization was thousands of years ago by looking at how well drawn their cave paintings are, as well as how many of them exist in one place. We can even prove this point by looking at more modern times. We can all identify which tiime period a building in the US was built in just by looking at the style in which it was built. Certain characteristics are from the '80s, some from the '60s or '70s, and so on. Architecture is a form of art. Ultimately, a time period in civilization is not judged by what advances where made, for eventually the exact time of certain advances are forgotten, or more often it is impossible to stamp an exact date on an advancement. Instead, we look at the art of the time as a label. I'm sure that in two-hundred years, some much more advanced civilization than our current one will look back and call this time period not the age of computers and cellphones, but rather the era of modern art and buildings built of glass and steel.
ReplyDeletePeople need to have respect and appreciation for arts of all kinds. People may find it impractical. In all honestly, it's not curing anybody of illness or physically saving lives, but it helps people in other ways. People express themselves through artwork of all kinds. Some don't even realize that they do it. Writing in a journal and doodling on a piece of paper can do a lot for someone. Reading someone else's thoughts can even be so helpful. I believe that we are required to learn humanities because creative nature is a part of being human. Why wouldn't we learn about everything that we have the potential to do? People place different things as higher priorities. While someone might think being a doctor is a noble practice, someone else might find their calling in being a painter. Their paintings might go on to change someone's life or inspire them to do great things. The person who dedicates their life to being a creative mind might not do as much immediate good as a doctor, but I believe that the creative and practical sides of humanity are equally important. Many practical ideas originate from a creative mind. It takes a creative mind to form ideas at all. Why would we not also exercise our creative minds and see where it leads us? All ideas, plans, hopes, and dreams are born from the creative part of one's mind. It is the creative side that allows you to be an individual.
ReplyDeleteI think Kraft was right about art though. Art is generally more appreciated later in life than when it is created. Later, people look back on where we've come from, what was inspired, and who made their mark in the world. Art is a way for a person to live forever, and that is what Kraft was saying. People remember art, because people are inspired by art.
I believe the arts are very practical and very necessary. An individual’s creativity should be very important to them. The arts are a way for an individual to express themselves and to maintain his or her individuality, so I do believe that it should be required for students to learn these things in class. Art is also good for preserving culture and things from the past. I believe that Kraft was correct about the arts. Most people admire and learn a great deal from historical art. Eventually, the art we create today could become history.
ReplyDeleteDaniel, do you think people who aren't exposed to the kind of culture that put before students in humanities classes (art, music, literature, drama, etc.) lead an existence that is less "human" than the existence enjoyed by students who take such classes?
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