Some thoughts on art.
If life is suffering, the purpose of art is to allieviate that suffering.
There is art, whose purpose is to allow you to escape from your suffering for a limited period of time. A television show that makes you laugh, a book that puts you in another world for a while, a piece of music that makes you get off your ass and dance. When you're finished with it, you haven't changed much, the world hasn't changed much, but you feel a little better and can get through another day.
There is a second kind of art, more rare, but no more or less valuable. This is the work that changes you, that brings you fresh insight and new tools for removing suffering from your life in the longterm. A movie that makes you pause and think about something from a new perspective, a song that moves you so powerfully you recognize emotions you've never had before, a novel that's truly visionary, leaving you examining life from a new set of eyes.
When I have a headache, I take an aspirin. It's effective. If I get a headache every day for a month, I visit the doctor and find out about long term treatment. Which has allieviated more suffering, aspirin or doctors?
There is a purpose for the art often labelled "escapist", and a purpose for the kinds of art termed "intellectual", "literary" and so on. The world would be a miserable place if it weren't for both kinds.
There is art, whose purpose is to allow you to escape from your suffering for a limited period of time. A television show that makes you laugh, a book that puts you in another world for a while, a piece of music that makes you get off your ass and dance. When you're finished with it, you haven't changed much, the world hasn't changed much, but you feel a little better and can get through another day.
There is a second kind of art, more rare, but no more or less valuable. This is the work that changes you, that brings you fresh insight and new tools for removing suffering from your life in the longterm. A movie that makes you pause and think about something from a new perspective, a song that moves you so powerfully you recognize emotions you've never had before, a novel that's truly visionary, leaving you examining life from a new set of eyes.
When I have a headache, I take an aspirin. It's effective. If I get a headache every day for a month, I visit the doctor and find out about long term treatment. Which has allieviated more suffering, aspirin or doctors?
There is a purpose for the art often labelled "escapist", and a purpose for the kinds of art termed "intellectual", "literary" and so on. The world would be a miserable place if it weren't for both kinds.