Destabilizing Effects Of Art

“This is where you can find your soul, if you dare.” (Anderson, pg 10) This belief comes from the mind of the Melinda, the progantists, art teacher, Mr. Freeman. Art is truly a door to the mind of an individual, showing things that people aren’t able to say. It shows through images and colors what many people aren’t able to express in words, events and thoughts speaking through the medium. Art is growing as a use of therapy to heal and tell. Psychologists analyze their patients art at a psychological level, interpreting the image into words. One of the theories in art therapy, which is seen throughout “Speak”, is the idea that unconscious thoughts are expressed in an image. (Irvings)These images then can be explained rationally. Melinda’s three major art images, the half dead trees, turkey bone, and cubism represent this theory.

Suffering is embedded in our daily lives. There are devastating things going on in our daily environments and yet, people seldom realize this as they occupy themselves with other tasks. W.H. Auden’s, Musée des Beaux Arts, is a statement on human perceptions and how we use them to observe, or block out human suffering. While we are doing ordinary things like eating, or opening a window, bad things can be happening to others and it is as easy as looking up, to see what is actually going on. Auden illustrates societies’ indifference to human suffering through the form of his poem and by alluding to artwork that compares human perceptions and juxtaposes ordinary images with images of suffering and tragedy.

Art is used to express various emotions, but it’s up to the interpreter to give it meaning. It comes in many different shapes, sizes, and types, but a specific individual will interpret each piece from their own perception; their approach is based on the setbacks and experiences they have been through. The short film Destino, by Walt Disney and Salvador Dali, and the book The Hunger Games, by Suzanne Collins, are two very different forms of art, but both contain characters who view situations based on their own fortitude. Each situation an individual approaches has its own setbacks, and an individual will view these with the attitude of a setback is only as big as one makes it.

The idea of art being a unique interpretation of what an artist’s feels towards a particular thing has always been a given when talking about art. However, where is the line drawn on what art truly is and what it means to its audience? To do this, the idea of what art means must be applied to the idea of what art is. In Dorothy Allison’s This is Our World, the author touches on points of what art is and what it means to its viewers. These points and supporting stories point to the idea that art is subjective, personal, and provocative. This allows Allison to draw her conclusion that arts purpose is to depict the deeper meaning into situations and incidents that occur in our world. In Dorothy Allison’s journal, one can see how the author effectively conveys the ideas of art being personal and subjective, but fails at detailing how art can be subjective.

Throughout the book Station Eleven by Emily St.John Mandel, the theme of memory, death, and literature are constant. The characters of the story are heavily involved with literature, from actors, to painters. Almost every character mentioned within the story is involved with some kind of art. Kirsten treasuring her Dr. Eleven comic books, August with his scavenged poetry, Arthur and the entire Traveling Symphony with their preserved performances, and Miranda with her life's work, Dr. Eleven. And, throughout the post-apocalyptic setting of the narrative, characters of the story are attempting to grab fragments of art to paint a picture of what the world was once was before, or use then as an escape tool from the depressing post apocalyptic setting, or even used as a guide to how to live one’s life. Thus, literature is an essential object to have as it provides people with a sense of morality, a coping method for depression, and a truth that transcends historical facts.

There are many types of literary work: visuals, poems, movies, stories, and so on. They are all completely different in appearance, but share similar meanings. The beauty of literary work lies in the hidden messages of each piece. Mark Doty’s “Embrace” is about a man losing a loved one, but not having the loss control him, having the love take control of the loss. Amy Tan’s “Two Kinds” is about the complexities in a mother daughter relationship, in which her mom and she both face internal and external conflicts in order to achieve the American dream. Her mom being the internal conflict and America being the external conflict. Lastly, the movie Trance is about a painting auctioneer, Simon, who gets involved with Franck and his criminal associates.

My experiences at LandWorks were enriching; it empowered me to question how art therapy allows emotions to be vocalised through art, the importance of artistic and therapeutic techniques, and the significance to implement art therapy into everyday life; allowing one to find one’s self. I wanted to investigate how each prisoner copes with showing emotion, the importance of time and how their use of their time has changed. Also, what the prisoners learnt throughout their journey, and what helps to motivate the prisoners to undertake a more positive outlook. Does art facilitate the viewer to have an experience? Does it explores the viewer’s perceptual capabilities, so they can develop their own meaning behind the work? Dewey (2005:36) discusses the experiences felt by viewers,

Human emotions remain as one of the world’s biggest secrets. Like sleep, we know what happens to our body when we experience these emotions whether it be a release of hormones or a certain area on the body becomes more sensitive. But we don’t know why we have them, experience them, or what purpose they serve. All we know is everyone’s emotions behave differently. Different types of arts can elicit completely different emotional response from people. Some art may have the ability to appeal to dangerous emotions in certain people. Whether it be the corruption of a once faithful and beautiful young girl, plagued by the desire for romanticism and lofty ideas, or a handsome young nobleman who is obsessed with living life to fullest. Both are fueled by the emotion that a certain type of art elicits in them, leaving them in a never ending chase that ruins there life’s. In the Novels Madame Bovary and The Picture of Dorian Grey the protagonists in these stories perfectly exemplifies the danger of arts emotional appeal by showing the corruption and eventual downfall of two once young and beautiful souls by exposing them to art that pleases dangerous emotions such as desire, pleasure, entitlement and disappointment.

The themes in his art and in this film reflect a major theme of art: the human experience. “We experience doubt and wonder, happiness and sorrow, loneliness and despair,” (Getlein, M. (2016). 3. Living With Art (11th ed. , pp.

Critic Melody Monahan writes that “[Renée] connects this concept of art to the human search for consonance amid dissonance. Like true connection that occurs when people set aside their assumptions, art delivers a universal purity that rises above particular human pretense and conflict,”

In Auden’s “Musee des Beaux Arts” imagery supports the theme that suffering is ignored because it is ubiquitous. He uses imagery to get through to the reader’s five senses.

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?

Art is not just a picture on a wall or in a museum, art comes in many forms. It can be a song you just heard, a video you watched, or a painting you saw in a gallery. Also, art can be just text. All forms of art grasp you in different ways and make your thoughts evolve to new distances. Art can bring you feelings you did not think you had. You can perceive the art in many ways and the creator wants it to influence you. I believe that yes, at can truly influence society and inform human behavior. While it may seem to some that pictures, songs, and videos influence you the most, it is actually true that books are the most influential and informative because they get in touch with your mind and emotions.

Good art allows me to flee the realms of reality. In my mind's limitless consciousness, I can escape the mundanity of everyday life. It opens a door in my head to a world only limited by my imagination. I am no more a slave to gravity, chained down on the earth when I am reading. I can be a bird and soar high above the clouds, or be a fish and swim deep down in the darkest depths of the ocean. I am there, I am that person, and everything else around me regardless of what it is, fades away. Sometimes these people are the one's I'd like to be but sometimes I encounter nefarious characters I wholly condemn. I am able to feel the emotions that the artist intends for me to feel. However, it is not merely reading or listening, but understanding

Vincent Van Gogh is one of the most famous artists of all time. He is known for his paintings and is hailed as the quintessential expressionist painter in history. Yet, Van Gogh lived one of the most troubling lives one could ever imagine. Almost every painting can be viewed as a look into his troubled soul. Van Gogh’s Paintings today can be sold for millions of dollars, but during his life time he sold a single painting for a measly 40 francs. Van Gogh’s legacy has left behind stories of greatness and sadness having to do with both his personal life and his career as an artist.