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Art has several functions. First, and historically most important, perhaps, is worship or petition to the gods or spirits of the place. We painted the walls of caves to beseech success in the hunt. We built Parthenon, Psalms, Borobudur, Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring, Paradiso, Chartres to glorify our gods. Second, is to describe and preserve the images or sounds or touch that we experienced or imagined. A View of Delft, a Hymn to Joy, a Kiss, The Hill are human, all too human. Third, to exercise our pride and arrogance. The pyramids of Egypt and Mexico, Versailles, the U.S. Capitol create worship of the power of the State. Fourth, to remember ourselves: Gudea, Iliad, Samuel and Kings. Fifth, to express our love and desire -- Sappho, Keats, Brooke and many of our popular songs. Six, entertainment. Cinema, TV, games, light fiction, garments, and the rest ... the stories we make up and tell our kids, our My Dictionary entries and jokes. Seven --- to sell. Too often, we forget that Phydias, Homer, Bach, Wright, Beethoven, Vermeer, Michelangelo and almost everyone we remember had to sell his art to live. We tend to idolize, but forget that one must work to live, and to make an art of life seldom pays the bill. |
