Purposes of Art I. A vehicle for religious ritual The【T1】_____: primary patron of artists【T1】______ Traditional societie

Purposes of Art
Good morning, everyone. Today, we are going to continue our talk about art, particularly about the purposes of art. Art is created and enjoyed by many people for many reasons. However, one of the things that art does is to extend and expand our shared common visual language. When new visual ideas are first introduced by the artist, they are often seen as shocking, and perhaps even as incomprehensible. However, with time the best and most effective of these ideas are accepted. There is nothing harder than trying to grasp what was shocking or muminating about certain images, or ways of making images. Once the shock is gone, we have all absorbed this bit of visual data into our own vocabularies. Artists show us new ways to see familiar things, and how to interpret new situations and events through various kinds of visual shorthand. This creation of visual language may be the artist’s intention, or it may be a side effect of other purposes. So what are some of the purposes that art fulfils?
Probably the oldest purpose of art is as a vehicle for religious ritual. From the prehistoric cave paintings of France, to the Sistine Chapel, art has served religion.[1]For centuries the church was the primary patron of artists.[2]In traditional societies even today, the primary purpose of art is religious or ceremonial.
[3]Secondly, art may also serve as a commemoration of an important event. The event may be of major historical importance, such as the coronation of Josephine by Napoleon as recorded by the artist David,[4]or it may be important only to the participants, like the image of a wedding or a baptism.
Thirdly, art has often served as propaganda or social commentary. Propaganda images are attempts to persuade us toward particular viewpoints or actions promoted by public or private institutions such as political parties, lobbyists, governments, or religious groups. The propaganda purpose may be one we approve of, such as World War II efforts to get women behind the war effort, as epitomized in Norman Rockwell’s works entitled Rosie the Riveter. It might also be a purpose we disapprove of.[5]In either case, the power of visual images has frequently been used to persuade masses of people to accept beliefs, take actions, or follow leaders.[6]The artist as social commentator may simply make us more aware of the human condition as he/she perceives it, without suggesting particular action.
Fourthly, art may be simply a means of recording of visual data or telling the "truth" about what we see.[7]After the Renaissance, artists became preoccupied with new ways of capturing reality such as the use of linear perspective, and the realism possible through the use of oil painting technique. In time, artists like Courbet and Cezanne began in various ways to challenge the basic idea of what it is for an image to be true and real.
Next in point, art can also be seen as pleasing the eye or creating beauty. Yet the idea of beauty, like that of truth, has been challenged in the modern era.[8]At one time, the artist was expected to portray perfection, the lofty and noble ideals of beauty. Yet as society became more industrialized and democratic,[9]many thoughtful people began to broaden their notions of what could be beautiful. For example, Rembrandt could celebrate the tactile quality of paint and colour in his picture of a side of beef, and Courbet and Millet could see beauty in the life of ordinary peasants.
[10]In addition, art is also a powerful means of storytelling.[11]This was a common device of religious art of the Middle ages, for example in the frescoes by Giotto from the Church of San Francesco de Assisi, where sequences of panels were used to tell stories from the Scriptures or lives of Saints.[12]It is also the great gift of Norman Rockwell, who had the ability to tell powerful and subtle stories about ordinary people and events, in .just one picture. A picture is truly worth a thousand words.
[13]Another purpose of art is conveying intense emotion. The expressive power of art can be seen in literal ways in the capturing of facial expression and body language. Certain religious art, and the works of expressionists such as Munch or Kirchner are charged with powerful emotions. Picasso, in works such as Guernica is able to communicate intense emotions. This is accomplished variously by use of dramatic or exaggerated colour, light, form, and/or other elements.
[14]Finally, one of the primary purposes of art is to interpret the subject matter at hand. Subject matter does not change all that much over time. Although new subject matter has been evolved, the human condition, nature, and events still continue to capture the attention of artists. The media used have changed relatively little; though new materials have appeared in this century, the conventional media continue to be used. Nor can we say that the quality or artistic merit of art works has increased or lessened with time. However,[15]throughout the course of history as society has changed, so also has the interpretation of specific subject matter. A portrait executed in 1900s could rarely be confused with one done in the 1600s. Even landscape is reinterpreted in the context of a changing world. Each work is an expression of the subject in the context of the values, culture, and events of its specific era
OK I have briefly outlined some important and prevalent purposes of art for you. I am sure you now have a better understanding about art and its functions and intentions. Next time, we shall talk about art and its relevance with societal changes.