Visual art has a profound impact on society. While most people might expect social change to come from policymakers or journalists, visual art has been lauded for inspiring social changes across all levels of society. Not only are they used to foster dialogue, but they are also used to bring important issues to the attention of the public.
Promotes Cross-Cultural Understanding
Art has been used to foster collaborations between societies. For instance, artists from communities that have historically been at war can come together and use art to raise the levels of understanding between the concerned cultures. Throughout human history, visual art has been used to convey progressive ideas across different classes considering that they do not rely on written language.
Fosters Community Engagement
Art has been used to unify communities. When put into proper use, art can be used to create social cohesion and to promote civic engagement. The creation of community art, for instance, can be used to help members of the community to work together and align themselves to shared ideals.
The sky is always the limit as far as using art to foster engagement is concerned. Some pieces of art can be used to
celebrate key events or achievements in the community, while others might be used to highlight special experiences in some parts of the city.
Used to Document Historical Events
Artworks are among the best ways to document present events for future generations. Without words, pictures can also be used to inspire change in future generations. For instance, Norman Rockwell’s paintings provide one of the few remaining glimpses on the lives of ordinary people in the 20th century. Ideally, arts offer a simple way to access pieces of history that would otherwise have been missed.
Offers Creative Solution to Social Issues
Art has been used to inspire social change across generations. The works of the renowned street artist Banksy, for instance, have been instrumental in drawing the attention of people to social issues. For instance, his whimsical paintings on Israel’s Western Wall were instrumental in provoking discussion on the tense situation between Israel and Palestine.
In recent years, there has been widespread use of therapeutic art in alleviating the symptoms of physiological trauma.
Besides entertainment, artworks play a critical role in society. While you might be tempted to make fun of some pieces of art, visual art will always have a strong influence on human life.