“We make beautiful things because we are created imago Dei, in the image of God. He made a beautiful world and filled it with beautiful plants and creatures. We are sub-creators continually trying to grasp a hold of beauty by representing it in our creations, whether those are sculptures, stories, or children.” (Courtney and Sanford, pg. 5). We create because we have been created. Each of our lives is permeated with art. It surrounds us daily. Beautiful things are a delight to the senses, a pleasure to the mind, and a refreshment for the soul (Courtney and Sanford, 7). It is undeniable that everyone around the world enjoys beautiful things. Because people enjoy beautiful things, people desire to create things that are beautiful to them. Take for example the beautifully painted terracotta vase, The Panathenaic Amphora with Runners. This vase was crafted around 520 B.C. It is not only exquisite, it also tells the history of the Olympic games. Art is extraordinary in this way because from it one is able to learn about a past culture while marveling at the beauty of a certain piece of art. Before one is able to see the importance of art one must define what it is. Art is an artifact, made by man, whose primary purpose is beauty or contemplation (Courtney and Sanford, 5). Now what about today’s modern art? Where is the beauty in it? How is it essential to culture? “As you travel and explore, you will see pieces that are offensive and ugly being celebrated in the art community or the media, like the postmodern “found objects” such as a signed urinal, or artifacts that require no skill. In many cases an artist is feeling an absence of love and kindness-which can be ugly.” (Courtney and Sandford, 139). Even if art is not necessarily beautiful to someone, it does not mean that it is not important. Art reflects the worldview and personal beliefs of an artist and the occurrences during the time the art piece was created. Understanding this opens one’s eyes to the realization that art is indeed important to culture even if it is lacking in beauty. Art is something that surrounds us every day, whether we realize it or not. Art is indeed essential to cultures, for art tells the history of the world, acts as a universal language, and goes beyond the realm of paintings.
Through art, one is able to learn about the history of a culture. For example, without art today’s society would know nothing about the Egyptians. Because the Egyptians created art, one is able to learn what their culture was like and how they lived their daily lives. The tombs or pyramids are indeed art themselves, as well as the statues they sculpted. According to Carol Strickland, Ph. D, “Tombs, each a time capsule of information on the daily life of its occupant, have yielded detailed knowledge of this vanished [Egyptian] civilization.” The tombs the Egyptians constructed are what most associate with the ancient Egyptians; however, what is inside the tombs reveal to the observer detailed facts about Egyptian culture. One of the most famous Egyptian artifacts is the “The Fowling Scene,” which is displayed in the British Museum. It is a fragment from the Tomb of Nebamun portraying the Pharaoh Nebamun on a hunting jaunt with his wife and daughter. From this singular artifact one is able to learn about the type of animals the Egyptians hunted, the type of watercraft they used, and the type of instruments they used to make their kill. Egyptology, a special branch of archeology, reconstructs Egyptian civilization from the huge-storehouse of surviving antiquities (Strickland, 8). Egyptologians help the modern day man to better understand the ancient Egyptian culture. Egyptian tomb paintings provide a great deal of information about ancient Egyptian life and customs (Wilkins and Schultz, 64). Wall paintings and hieroglyphics are a form of instant replay, portraying the deceased’s former life and daily activities in minute detail (Strickland, 9). The relatively unchanging nature of Egyptian artistic practices reveals the stability of its civilization (Wilkins and Schultz, 53). The magnificence of the Egyptian temples provides one with a sense of awe and wonder at the amazing architectural feats they accomplished without specialized equipment. The enormous New Kingdom temples at Karnak and Luxor, which are among the largest religious structures ever built, played an important role in Egyptian religion and politics (Wilkins and Schultz, 60). The Egyptian temples were meant to endure the test of time, and Amenhotep III described a temple he had built at Thebes as “an eternal, everlasting fortress of fine white sandstone, wrought with gold throughout; it is made very wide and large, and established forever.” (Wilkins and Schultz, 61). From Egyptian architecture one is able to learn about the daily lives, political stances, and religious beliefs of the ancient Egyptians. A political piece of Egyptian artwork, the Votive Palette of King Narmer, marks the establishment of the unified nation of Egypt (Wilkins and Schultz, 54). This palette portrays Narmer, who has been identified with Menes, first King of the first Egyptian dynasty (Wilkins and Schultz, 54). He wears the largest crown of Upper Egypt, and it shows Narmer bringing under his control a figure that represents Lower Egypt (Wilkins and Schultz, 54.). From this piece of art one is able to learn about the important historical unification of Upper and Lower Egypt. Egyptian art is extremely important to today’s culture because from their artifacts one is able to learn about the history of Egypt in the utmost detail.
The Bayeux Tapestry is a singular piece of artwork that tells the history of events surrounding the Norman conquest in Europe. This elegant piece of artwork is showcased in the Bayeux Museum, where they have enclosed the tapestry in a beautiful glass display. The tapestry itself is a total of 231 feet long, 19.5 inches wide, and it depicts 70 detailed scenes of the Norman conquest in Europe (Britannica). This tapestry is used around the world as a visual piece of history to teach children, teens, and adults about the Norman Conquest. The story told by the Bayeux Tapestry begins in 1064, when Edward the Confessor, King of England, instructs his brother-in-law Harold Godwinson to travel to Normandy in order to offer his cousin, William, the succession to the English throne (Bayeux Museum). This medieval embroidery acts like a photograph, for it accurately depicts this crucial time in history. It is an account of the Medieval period in Normandy during the time of 1066, and the tapestry is a remarkable piece of art and an important source for 11th-century history (Britannica). From this tapestry one is able to learn about the civil and military architecture of the time, religious beliefs, and the Norman invasion. There are over 628 characters and 202 horses that are embroidered onto this tapestry (Bayeux Museum). Although the end of the embroidery is missing, the story ends with the Anglo-Saxons fleeing at the end of the Battle of Hastings in October 1066 (Bayeux Museum). This piece of art is vital to today’s culture, for it provides a visual account of a crucial event in Europe’s history.
Through art one is able to learn about the history of a culture. The Egyptians are just one example of a civilization the modern day man knows about from their art and artifacts. In addition, all that we know about the ancient Greeks and the ancient Chinese come from the art that they created. Art is in fact essential because it not only tells the history of a culture, it preserves the history of the world.
Art is important to culture because it acts as a universal language. Musicians are powerful artists, able to explicitly communicate a message to their audience using a melody or tune. Music is prominent in all cultures that exist and that have existed. In every culture, every country, and every background, you will find music. It is vitally important across the globe and has the potential to bring people together in peace and harmony (Fraser). One common musical thread between cultures is known as the pentatonic scale. It is astonishing how many cultures share this tool in approaching music. The pentatonic scale consists of five notes; “penta-” meaning 5, and “tonic” meaning tone or note (Fraser). This scale can be found everywhere including the music of Native Americans, Celtic tradition, Africa, and Asia (Fraser). It is also found in popular music, blues, jazz, and rock (Fraser). Using this five-note scale, musicians from around the globe have a medium through which they can relate, communicate, perform, and ultimately understand each other (Fraser). Music is a vital art, for it unites people around the globe.
The Pieta by Michelangelo is a powerful sculpture that communicates spiritual truths to the viewer (Courtney and Sanford, 44). The title of this work, Pieta, is literally translated from Italian as “pity.” It refers to the exact moment in a sequence of scenes depicting Christ’s death and resurrection (Courtney and Sanford, 45). The viewer sees Mary holding the crucified body of Jesus Christ. This elegant sculpture displayed in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome, Italy, radiates many different emotions, like sadness yet peace, death yet life. It is truly marvelous how Michelangelo was able to create a piece of artwork that has remained powerful for hundreds of years. But why does this sculpture cause the viewer to become emotional? Why does it cause tears to drip down the face of the onlookers? Perhaps because this piece of art portrays one's salvation, one who died for all, one who was crucified for all. The spiritual truths that emanate from this statue is undeniable. As Francis Schaffer said, “Christian art is the expression of the whole life of the whole person as a Christian. What a Christian portrays in his art is the totality of life. Art is not to be solely as a vehicle for some sort of self-conscious evangelism.”
Albrecht Durer's engraving of St. Jerome in His Study, is another example of how art is a universal language. This engraving speaks to the viewer without words or sound. A closer look at the figure of St. Jerome reveals a circle of light above his head. The circle resembles the medieval halo, identifying St. Jerome as a Saint, and perhaps indicating his divine inspiration while translating Scripture (Courtney and Sanford, 65). There are many different important symbols that Duer placed in this particular piece of art. Important symbols in the church during Duer’s time were the skulls, crucifixes, and hourglasses. The skull, crucifix, and hourglass are positioned in order to remind the viewer that Christ’s death, represented by the crucifix, cleansed the sin of Adam and its consequence, death, which is represented by the skull (Courtney and Sanford, 65). The hourglass is a reminder that man’s life is finite on Earth (Courtney and Sanford, 65).
Art is important to culture because it is such a vast genre. Oftentimes people declare that art is just a painting or a sculpture; however, this is simply untrue. As seen, art can be so many different things like; music, literature, architecture, and so much more. Architecture is a unique type of art, take the Palace of Versailles for example. Versailles is the largest palace in the entire world with hundreds of rooms and sprawling grounds. Its impressive scale actually made a political statement, for it was intended to assert for the French populace and nobility, as well as for foreigners, the power of the French monarch (Wilkins and Schultz, 334). In some ways the very creation of Versailles may have played a role in establishing and perpetuating that power (Wilkins and Schultz, 334). From French architecture one is able to grasp how much power they used to possess, and how they enjoyed flaunting their power through their magnificent architecture. The Hall of Mirrors in Versailles is a 240 foot-long gallery that is lined with massive silver furniture and possesses 17 foot floor-to-ceiling windows and mirrors that reflect the sun, making it “an avenue of light” (Strickland, 63). Crystal chandeliers, multicolored marble, solid-silver furniture, and crimson velvet hangings embroidered with gold fill every room in the Palace of Versailles (Strickland, 63). King Louis XIV created an environment of ostentatious luxury, designed to impress visitors with the splendor of both France and his royal self (Strickland, 63). To this day Versailles remains a world renowned palace, hundreds of palaces across Europe have copied the French Baroque opulence in order to show to the world the magnificence of themselves and their country. The Amalienburg Palace located in Munich, Germany, is one of the many palaces that have been designed after Versailles. Even though the Palace of Versailles may seem like just another fancy building, it remains a symbolic building to the French reminding them of the greatness that once was theirs, and it also reminds the world of how rich the French empire once was. If Versailles were to be destroyed not only would a beautiful building be demolished, but with it important artifacts of French history, irreplaceable paintings, and hundreds upon hundreds of sculptures would be lost.
Some argue that art is not essential, that it is not necessary to life. An argument some make is that food, shelter, and clothing are the essentials; however, while this is true, art is also a necessity of life. Imagine a world without art. There would be no truth, goodness, or beauty. Life would be a bland canvas. Noah Webster declares that art can be divided into two categories; mechanic and liberal (Webster). According to his 1828 dictionary, the mechanic arts are those in which the hands and body are more concerned than the mind; as in making clothes and utensils (Webster). These arts are called trades (Webster). The liberal arts are those in which the mind or imagination is chiefly concerned; such as poetry, music, and painting (Webster). Webster’s definition of art clearly refutes the argument that art is not essential to culture, for art surrounds people each day of their lives, whether they recognize it or not. From the clothes they wear, to the homes where they live art makes up the world around them. Therefore, this argument is invalid, for it contradicts the definition of art and is lacking in proof.
In addition some argue that art is not only unnecessary to culture, but can be harmful. They argue that it brings up dark memories from a culture's past. This is also invalid, for it is important to remember what events took place, whether good or bad, in a culture's history. It is important to know the past, and art does an excellent job of portraying what occurred in the past. The reason it is important to know about a culture’s past is so that modern civilization will not be doomed to repeat the darker moments in world history. Paintings that portray bloody battle scenes remind the viewer of the consequences of evil. By destroying this type of art, one is actually erasing a reminder to stand guard against evil. The argument that art is harmful is simply inadequate, for from it, today’s culture is able to learn about the mistakes of the past.
Art is indeed essential to cultures, for art tells the history of the world, art acts as a universal language, and art goes beyond the realm of paintings. This matters to today’s society for it is crucial for everyone to understand how it plays a role in everyone’s life. Art is something that is priceless to cultures, for if a culture's art was to be destroyed so would the culture. Francis Schaffer once said, “What is the place of art in the Christian life? Is art- especially the fine arts- simply a way to bring worldliness in through the back door? What about sculpture or drama, music or painting? Do these have any place in the Christian life? Shouldn't a Christian focus his gaze steadily on ‘religious things’ alone and forget about art and culture? As evangelical Christians, we have tended to relegate art to the very fringe of life. The rest of human life, we feel, is more important. Despite our constant talk about the Lordship of Christ, we have narrowed its scope to a very small area of reality. We have misunderstood the concept of the Lordship of Christ over the whole man and the whole of the universe and have not taken to us the riches that the Bible gives us for ourselves, for our lives, and for our culture. The Lordship of Christ over the whole of life means that there are no platonic areas in Christianity, no dichotomy or hierarchy between the body and the soul. God made the body as well as the soul, and redemption is for the whole man.”
Annotated Bibliography
Strickland, Carol. The Annotated Mona Lisa. John Boswell Management, Inc, 1992.
The Annotated Mona Lisa contained detailed information on the art of different cultures. It showed that through art people are able to learn about the history of a past civilization. It listed many different art pieces, details about the art and artists, and the importance art plays in today’s culture.
Wilkins, G. David, and Bernard Schultz. Art Past, Art Present. Prentice-Hall, Inc., 1990.
Art Past, Art Present focused on describing each culture and the type of art that a particular culture would create. The authors used different pieces of art to describe different time periods. This book goes through world history using art.
Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. "Bayeux Tapestry". Encyclopedia Britannica, 26 Dec. 2022, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Bayeux-Tapestry. Accessed 19 January 2023.
The Encyclopedia Britannica is known around the world as a distinguished source among scholars. The article of the Bayeux Tapestry is detailed and provides accurate information for their editors.
Fraser, Ben. “Music is a Universal Language”. Highland Music Studio, 4 Aug. 2020, https://highland-music.com/music-is-a-universal-language/. Accessed 20 January 2023.
Highland Music Studio publishes online articles about the importance of music and how it affects our daily lives. The team of musicians that work for Highland Music Studio are passionate about their love for music and enjoy sharing pertinent information about their art.
Courtney, Jennifer, and Courtney Sanford. Marvelous To Behold. Classical Conversations MultiMedia, 2018.
Marvelous to Behold shows the beauty of art. This book takes an art piece and dissects it. The author’s, both distinguished women, shed a new light on each piece of art mentioned. They go into background detail about the painting or sculpture, discuss the symbols of objects in the art work, and cover the history of the artist.
“Bayeux Tapestry - Visit to the Bayeux Tapestry.” Bayeux Museum, Bayeux Museum, https://www.bayeuxmuseum.com/en/the-bayeux-tapestry/.
The Bayeux Tapestry Museum owns their own website where they are able to use technology to show the beauty of this tapestry to millions of people around the world. In addition to having many visual aids on their website, they also have hundreds of articles about the history of this tapestry. The writers of this prestigious website also have in depth information about many different artifacts that are from the town of Bayeux, France, most importantly the tapestry.
“Art.” American Dictionary of the English Language. Original addition. 1828.
The American Dictionary of the English Language was written by the prestigious Noah Webster in 1828. Webster offers definitions to the words in the American language to the readers. It has been used for hundreds of years giving readers a better understanding of the American Language. This dictionary is also one of the most well-known and widely published in the world.
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