Sophie Clyburn

UWRT2
Mrs. Thomas
Why Should You Care About Art?
Regardless of which level of art we discuss (or argue about), one thing is very
clear. Art has existed as long as humans have, so it clearly "comes with the territory".
Some of us make it. But all of us use it, in one way or another. Because we need it.
What would our world look like without art? Its a bit to hard to imagine
because its everywhere isnt it? Allow me to explain. The buildings we spend
our lives in are created by architecture: the process and product of planning,
designing, and constructing physical structures. The average person can
probably tell you that it is a form of art, because its been designed and
created. Key words. Art encompasses creating. Art is an expression of
human existence. defined by Amy Hendrickson, who double majored in
Art History and Psychology at University of Texas. Since we are all humans,
and we all have the means of expressing ourselves, then we must technically
all be able to make art in some way, shape, or form.
Art is huge reason that we have any record of ancient societies. Think
about the cave paintings found in Europe. They were basically just finger
painting with natural pigment on the cold rocky walls and these days, some
people may not consider finger painting really worthy of being art. But
that is completely subjective and I want to help my peers understand that
creating in the most basic terms is always art. Art can be music,

woodworking, writing a short story, banging together pans to make a beat,

rearranging your room decor to be more aesthetic, and so much more
because you dont have to be able to paint Mona Lisa to be considered an
artist. By having an imagination, you can create, and if you can create, then
you are an artist. In some way, shape, or form.
Art can benefit everyone. Aside from the fact that it is incorporated in
our daily lives, the real advantages are when you do the creating. Research
tells us that it helps reduce or relieve mental stress. The popularity of adult
coloring books has skyrocketed within the past year. Therapists can account
for the positive effects of the most basic artistic expressions. Coloring
between the lines may not constitute as your definition of making art, but it
still encompasses choosing a color for each white space, therefore becomes
unique (or art) because of the human interaction.
Dr. Lawrence, a leader in neuron regeneration research, found that it
wasnt brain cells dying that led to mental decline, but rather the decline in
communication between them. To combat the loss of communication, many
recommend participating in an artistic endeavor. Unlike popular
misconception, making any type of art requires the use of both hemispheres
of the brain. So you dont have to be right brain dominant to make/design
something. Art is universal as well as something that differentiates us from
other animals. My point is everyone should use their creativity during their
lifetimes because it only has advantages.

Think about your time as a child and how much art you made in
elementary and middle school. It was required so even though you might not
have been particularly keen on the subject, you still created things. Time
goes on and you get to choose more of your classes, but science and maths
are prized for being the most academic so therefore you take those classes.
Did you know that if you would have taken an extra art/creative class, that
you would have had a possible significant increase in the rest of your
academic performance? A report from the 70s recorded the academic results
of children who had the addition of a creative class and those who didnt.
Guess which ones came out on top?
The reasoning behind the better performance is the notion that
creative classes enhance problem solving skills and help create more wellrounded students. Musical training, another form of art, has been proven to
aid children immensely. The strong predictive effect of training duration
suggests that instrumental music training may enhance auditory
discrimination, fine motor skills, vocabulary, and nonverbal reasoning.
(Winner 26). **There are many other studies that focus on other art forms
and their beneficial effects.
There are some who discredit the function and positivity of art, of
course. I found much of this negative feedback on the subject of modern art
and how it has destroyed the once glorious position of art. These people
generally mean the splatter paint canvases and the chaotic nature of new
music genres; it doesnt please these people and with this disgust, they rant

on the internet on how art has failed us and so on. Other anti-art bloggers
tell about how the Puritans condemned art and thought all visual/auditory
decor and beauty was vain. We have to understand that we arent in the
17th century and aesthetic is a massive part of our culture and society. In
fact, all the people writing anti-art content are creating as they rage! They
are expressing themselves and that like I said, is the most basic
explanation/definition of art.
I want to convince you that you should go a little out of your comfort
zone , if you arent an artsy person and create something, participate in an
art form. Whether it be dancing, strumming the guitar, painting, reciting
poetry, and the countless other forms, do it and reap the benefits of being a
human with an imagination.

When you think about art, you may immediately associate it only with the
famous fine arts such as a Greek style sculpture or a Monet impression. I
want to redefine art as something that ranges in outcomes, some
aesthetically pleasing and others interesting or strange expression. Metal
rock is shunned by some, but it is an art form just as much as the ancient
cave paintings found in the Lascaux caves in France. Splatter paint and many
modern styles are also not given the same respect as the Mona Lisa for
example, but art appreciation is objective and this is something that we
should always keep in mind. The point is dont discredit human expression
even if it doesnt appeal to you.