How Does the Beauty of Our World Live in the Arts?
The arts bring out the best of what our world can be.
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The last few years have been extra crazy.
Between the pandemic, increasing political partisanship, the growing lack of kindness, compassion, and empathy among our so-called leaders, and markets gone haywire — the world has felt more and more oppressive.
Through it all, however, lights continue to turn on and offer more options and opportunities. And many of those lights are centered around the arts.
There have been some good and fun TV and movies to come out in the last few years. Maybe not the most high-end and intellectually stimulating stuff — but fun, nonetheless. Between all the Star Wars, Star Trek, Marvel shows and movies, and numerous other sci-fi and fantasy stuff like The Expanse and Shadow & Bone — I, for one, am enjoying glorious geekdom.
Though none of these are considered high art, they are part of the arts. As such, they’re all part of the beauty of our world.
This is not the only place to find the arts beautifying our world. I read daily, and there are so, so, so many books. Fiction and nonfiction alike — lots to read. Music is being constantly made and shaped. And other arts are being produced regularly that don’t just show the beauty of our world — but help to enhance it.
In all the craziness of the last few years — it feels hard to see the beauty of our world. But the arts are one of the best ways to see it — for everyone.
The arts make our history
Ancient history is largely remembered via the arts they left behind.
Greek, Roman, and Egyptian architecture and sculpture. The paintings, sculptures, and architecture across medieval times. Plays, stories, and books telling fantastic myths and legends.
In college, I minored in art history. Part of why was because it spoke to me in a way that basic history classes didn’t. Granted, I love history in general. But history through the arts is so much more incredible. The arts and artists tell us a lot about when and where they come from overall.
