Cultural and Media

Some of the most redefining and revolutionary moments in the history of man socially, have been catalyzed by use of art. Throughout the age’s music, imagery and poetry have been a fundamental tool in reaching out to the masses to condemn vices, motivate people and bring awareness. One cannot underestimate the impact that art has in influencing and communicating an idea to the people. Art is an integral ingredient in the cohesion and integration of any society. Through poetry, the poet is able to put across a message that resonates in the minds of the reader in an artistic manner that ultimately triggers a response. Art is therefore a force to reckon with in the transformation of a society or a regime.

In the contemplation of art, or rather the conceptually intangible definition it currently possess, it is imperative to be mindful that “art” has been utilized as a promotional device, ceremonial item, aesthetically purposed article or perhaps none of these or all. It is because of this vague term that Carolyn Dean, in her text, “The Trouble with (The Term) Art”, makes a case for the consequences of applying the term “art” in societies that lacked such a notion which also accounts for the Western-centric lens the field intrinsically utilizes when viewing non-Western art. The claim is deftly supported by the utilization of expert accounts in the subject, alternative perspectives for what is considered the current norm, and self-examining questions,

In the text Adorno and Horkheimer primarily focuses on the issue of art such movies, radio program and etc becoming a commodity and the fusing of the market and art areas. The criticism of the culture industry stems from the fact that for Adorno and Horkheimer culture held the answer for liberation, however the mass produced culture that they found in America was instead enslaving people. Adorno and Horkheimer’s argument regarding mass culture produced products and its effects and commoditization of art remain important to contemporary society because these issues have continued to have a negative effect on contemporary society this can be observed by analyzing contemporary mass culture products such as television, movies and the internet.

Throughout human history people used to capture the reality of their time, express their feelings and share their impressions by copying both literally or figurative the mundane. The so-called artists have had different impacts in society all along the centuries. Only a few are currently taught in school, although the reverberation of their work is still impregnated in XXI Century. Nowadays, the term ‘artist’ can be used in reference of painters, sculptors, writers, singers, choreographers and other professions whose production are considered valuable culturally speaking. One of the main problems is that their work produce such a magnificent impact on the audience the artist is set aside and usually forgotten as a person, so they feel their rights to be violated.

Lisa Gitelman suggests in her book "Always Already New: Media, History, and the Data of Culture" that by studying media's history one can understand their meaning and relevance to society at large. Media's past becomes especially important in a time where individual media are increasingly mixed together without clear boundaries. Although historical media objects continue to be significant, they often feel outdated and therefore get neglected. It further adds to the idea that the process of modernism already accomplished.

Today art is perceived to be accepted as a means to reconcile communities, heal the past and build the future. Art can act as a conduit for strengthening communities across the world. The arts can open a dialogue among communities and can create an opportunity for engagement. They can play a vital role in avoiding conflicts by helping us understand and bridge cultural differences. The means that can be adopted for this transformation are diverse and range from dance, music, theatre and visual arts.

According to Adorno, the culture industry presents a huge danger to the people. The culture industry ideally looks at the culture to be based on the things which are already recognized form the past (Adorno 114). Adorno looks at how the culture industry has led to the collapse of reason in the society. It reduces the ability of the society to

Today, things such as twerking or women cussing is acceptable, whereas 30 years ago, you would have been considered an insane delinquent. A lot of today’s norms have our grandparents question our sanity and wonder if the end of the human race is actually coming. But the question is if the constant display of pop culture is what is affecting our social behavior. Are we learning and accepting more of this ill-mannered behavior because it is presented all around us every day?

Each generation presents us with the different varieties of artistic expression. The prevalence of art impacting society has always been constant. With the many forms of artistic expression that exist, it is also easy to see how an individual can test out the different options available to them until finding a specific form that suits their tastes. When this happens, the artist and viewer create a special mutually beneficial relationship. This is evident in the article, “Memory, Money and Persistence: Theater Of Social Change in Context” written by Arlene Goldbard. . Goldbard used her article to expose the concept of social awareness and performances that are relevant to and can even change the open world outside of the arts. This is evident

Art is a catalyst of change. It can confront both social and political issues as well as providing people with a creative outlet in which they can express their innermost thoughts and feelings - but what effect can art have on our society as a whole? Artists today have the unique ability to connect with people in a creative, innovative way that they can understand and interpret themselves. With this ability, artists are able to express their own views as well as influencing the views of others. Art is an immense part of our world – so much so that we barely even consider its impact upon us – but just how significant is the work of artists in our modern day society?

“Every great work of art has two faces, one toward its own time and one toward the future, toward eternity.” Art in and of itself is a reflection of the ideals and concepts promoted during the time it was conceived in, and serves as a historical litmus test as to which periods it draws inspiration from; however, as Daniel Barenboim states in his quote above, impactful art that resonates with the human spirit lasts beyond its time. Throughout history, art serves as the visual manifestation of the power and wealth of those who patronize the medium and by extension the period’s culture. More importantly, however, art can serve as a lasting mark and legacy for those who desire to leave a visual reminder of their strength while they were living.

What makes us who we are? People have a way of becoming influenced by things that interest us the most. One increasingly popular concept that is prone to affecting us is the media. Due to the high rise of pop culture and its effect on society, more and more youth are becoming influenced by the culture of the media, and have begun to adopt the new ‘cool’ habits without understanding the consequences of following such ways. Firstly, when children understand the difference between stimulated violence on TV shows and real violence, they grow up recognizing that violence is not a solution to a problem and that it can cause much more damage that it does in films. Secondly, when parents ensure to discuss with their children the unpleasantness of vulgar

Referred to by Adorno as the ‘culture industry’ he asserted that culture is not produced by the people. The industry itself is responsible for producing products intended to keep the audience tediously entertained, still remaining passive. “Something is provided for all so that none may escape” (1979, Adorno). As an audience we are encouraged to believe that we choose what we consume- commercially and culturally, however, the lack of differentiating representations and images forces us to insist more of the same (gauntlet,

Since the rise of man, the concept of art has also arisen. With it, the goods and troubles it causes. Some argue that art is good and is only entertainment, while others see it as the cause of a State’s corruption. In Plato’s The Republic , Socrates thought that art should be censored because of its heavy influence on men. Writer Alexander Nehamas, on the other hand, feels that one generation's entertainment is the next’s fine art, which he thinks is ridiculous to censor. But the biggest question that remains is: when does art stop being art?

For over two thousand years, various philosophers have questioned the influence of art in our society. They have used abstract reasoning, human emotions, and logic to go beyond this world in the search for answers about arts' existence. For philosophers, art was not viewed for its own beauty, but rather for the question of how art and artists can help make our society more stable for the next generation. Plato, a Greek philosopher who lived during 420-348 B.C. in Athens, and Aristotle, Plato’s student who argued against his beliefs, have no exceptions to the steps they had to take in order to understand the purpose of art and artists. Though these two philosophers made marvelous discoveries about the existence of art, artists, and