Why art is important | Katerina Gregos | TEDxGhent

Summary

This speech emphasizes the indispensable role of art in society, advocating for its power to inspire, challenge, and change perceptions. Art, described as a 'useless necessity,' is seen as a critical counterpoint to prevailing stereotypes and power structures. The speaker champions contemporary, socially engaged art that addresses pressing issues, fostering dialogue and understanding. Art's subtle influence is highlighted as a form of soft power that shapes society on a micro level, advocating for its integration into education and recognition as a vital expression of human freedom and creativity.

Takeaways

• 🎨 Art is seen as an 'unnecessary necessity', highlighting its fundamental role in society despite being non-essential in a practical sense.
• 🌏 Imagining a world without art reveals its importance in enriching our lives with imagination and culture, setting us apart from other species.
• 👉 Art should not be judged solely by its market value or popularity, as it holds a subtle and unquantifiable power to influence and change perceptions.
• 🤔 Art challenges the status quo, encouraging critical thinking and questioning of accepted norms and views.
• 👥 The role of contemporary art is especially significant as it engages with society at large and addresses key issues that affect everyone.
• 🏛 Historically, art has been politically engaged, reflecting personal views and the freedom to express oneself, often serving as a form of resistance.
• 🌐 Sociopolitical art uses various media to tackle important issues like democracy, human rights, and the environment, providing a counterpoint to mainstream narratives.
• 💭 Art's impact is mysterious and subtle, making it difficult to convince politicians of its value through traditional metrics.
• 👂 Art serves as the conscience of society, prompting reflection, doubt, and questioning of our world and its possibilities.
• 🌟 Creativity and artistic imagination are integral to the human spirit, essential for expressing our aspirations and reimagining the world.
• 🆓 Art is the last frontier of unregulated free expression, advocating for freedom in a time when public spaces and information are increasingly privatized and regulated.

Q & A

What does the speaker compare themselves to at the beginning of the speech?

The speaker compares themselves to 'Little Miss Sunshine,' indicating that they feel a bit out of place without visual aids or music, much like the character in the movie.

What does Oscar Wilde suggest about art in his preface to 'The Picture of Dorian Gray'?

Oscar Wilde suggests that all art is 'quite useless,' but the speaker points out the word 'quite' to indicate that even Wilde did not consider art to be completely useless.

What does the speaker describe as an 'unnecessary necessity'?

The speaker describes art as an 'unnecessary necessity,' meaning that while it may not be essential for survival, it is important for enriching life.

Why does the speaker believe a world without art would be dull?

The speaker believes a world without art would be dull because art brings imagination, which distinguishes humans from other species and makes reality less banal.

What role does the speaker attribute to contemporary art in society?

The speaker attributes a significant role to contemporary art, stating that it should be engaged with society at large and address key issues that affect everyone.

What type of art does the speaker argue is more important today?

The speaker argues that socially and politically engaged art is more important today, as it deals with real-world issues and challenges prevailing images of power and stereotypes.

How does the speaker describe the difficulty in quantifying the impact of art?

The speaker describes the impact of art as being mysterious, latent, and subtle, making it difficult to quantify or qualify its effects on individuals.

What does the speaker suggest is the subtle power of art?

The speaker suggests that the subtle power of art lies in its ability to change the world one perception at a time, influencing minds and behavior in ways that cannot be predicted.

How does the speaker define the role of art in society?

The speaker defines the role of art in society as a conscience, a moral and intellectual resistance, and a barometer that highlights important ideas, problems, and issues.

What does the speaker believe is the importance of art in education?

The speaker believes that artistic imagination and creativity are integral to the human spirit and aspirations, and should have a more important place in school curriculums and education.

How does the speaker conclude the speech with a quote from Oscar Wilde?

The speaker concludes by quoting Oscar Wilde, stating that no great artist sees things as they really are, and encourages the audience to open their eyes to art and surprise themselves.

Outlines

00:00

🎨 The Role of Art in Society

The speaker begins by drawing a parallel to 'Little Miss Sunshine', highlighting the absence of visual aids and emphasizing the power of art to inspire and provoke thought. Art is described as an 'unnecessary necessity', essential for human imagination and distinguishing us from other species. The speaker argues against the notion of 'art for art's sake', advocating for socially and politically engaged art that addresses contemporary issues. This type of art uses various media to challenge prevailing power structures and stereotypes, offering a counter-narrative to mainstream media. The speaker emphasizes the historical engagement of art with politics and the inherent political nature of art as a form of expression and taking a stance.

05:01

🌏 Art as a Catalyst for Change

This paragraph delves into the transformative power of art, which cannot be easily defined or predicted in its impact on individuals and society. Art is portrayed as a subtle yet potent force that can change perceptions, challenge established opinions, and expose hidden truths. The speaker cites Anthony Gormley's definition of art as an optimistic act of freedom, capable of altering the world, even in small ways. Art is presented as a critical tool for opening horizons, fostering dialogue, and promoting understanding among diverse viewpoints. It serves as a moral and intellectual resistance, advocating for difference and giving voice to the marginalized. The speaker concludes by emphasizing the importance of art in education and as a frontier of free expression, encouraging the audience to embrace art's capacity to surprise and inspire.

Keywords

💡Art

Art in the video is presented as a vital component of society that goes beyond mere aesthetics to engage with and reflect upon the world. It is described as an 'unnecessary necessity' that enriches life by providing a counterpoint to the 'banality of reality.' The speaker emphasizes the role of art in challenging perceptions and fostering dialogue, making it integral to the human spirit.

💡Societal Engagement

Societal Engagement refers to the active involvement of art with the broader society, addressing and reflecting on issues that affect everyone. The script mentions that artists are increasingly inspired by reality and use their work to tackle key questions such as democracy, human rights, and the environment. This concept is central to the video's theme of art's role in society.

💡Contemporary Art

Contemporary Art is the focus of the video, defined as art that is created today and is particularly concerned with current social, political, and environmental issues. The speaker discusses the importance of this type of art in providing a critical perspective and challenging the status quo, which is essential for societal growth and understanding.

💡Imagination

Imagination is highlighted as the distinctive human ability that art cultivates and expresses. It is what allows artists to envision and create beyond the confines of reality, offering alternative viewpoints and possibilities. The script uses the term to illustrate how art can inspire and change the way people think and perceive the world.

💡Cultural Banality

Cultural Banality is used in the script to describe a hypothetical world devoid of art and culture, which would be intolerably dull and lacking in the richness that makes human life meaningful. This concept is used to argue for the necessity of art in providing depth and variety to human experience.

💡Political Engagement

Political Engagement in the context of the video refers to art's historical and ongoing involvement with political issues and the expression of personal views and freedoms. The speaker mentions the Russian avant-garde as an example of art serving political and societal programs, emphasizing the power of art to take a position and influence thought.

💡Soft Power

Soft Power is introduced to describe the subtle yet influential role of art in society. Unlike hard power, which is coercive, soft power like art influences by attraction and persuasion. The script explains that art changes the world on a micro level, affecting perceptions and behaviors in nuanced ways.

💡Freedom of Expression

Freedom of Expression is a recurring theme in the video, with the speaker arguing that art is the last frontier of unregulated expression in a world where public spaces and information are increasingly privatized and regulated. This concept is central to the argument that art advocates for and is born out of freedom.

💡Artists

Artists are portrayed as independent thinkers and creators who operate outside of normative thinking and social constraints. They are seen as agents of change, using their unique perspectives to challenge the status quo and inspire new ways of seeing and understanding the world.

💡Dialogue

Dialogue is presented as one of the key outcomes of engaging with art. The video suggests that art can foster communication and understanding between individuals with differing views, contributing to reconciliation and solidarity in society.

💡Creativity

Creativity is emphasized as an essential aspect of the human spirit and a core component of what makes us human. The speaker argues that artistic imagination and creativity are not just bonuses but integral to human aspirations and the ability to reimagine and reshape the world.

Highlights

The speaker likens themselves to 'Little Miss Sunshine', setting the stage for a talk without visual aids, focusing on the power of art in society.

Oscar Wilde's quote about all art being 'quite useless' is discussed, emphasizing the tongue-in-cheek nature of Wilde's statement.

The concept of art as an 'unnecessary necessity' is introduced, suggesting art's fundamental yet non-essential role in enriching life.

A hypothetical world without art is painted as dull and unimaginative, highlighting the importance of art in distinguishing humanity.

The speaker argues that art serves as a counterbalance to the banality of reality and as a means to endure truth, referencing Nietzsche.

The importance of contemporary art in engaging with societal issues is underscored, moving beyond art for art's sake.

Artists are described as being inspired more by reality than formal properties, indicating a shift towards socio-political engagement in art.

The speaker discusses the role of art in expressing key issues such as democracy, human rights, and the environment.

Art's historical engagement with politics is acknowledged, suggesting art's inherent political nature due to its expression of views and freedom.

The difficulty in quantifying art's impact is highlighted, emphasizing its mysterious and subtle influence.

The speaker argues against judging art's value by popular consensus or numbers alone, advocating for art's unique and undefinable impact.

Art is described as a subtle power that changes the world perception by perception, influencing minds and behavior.

The British artist Anthony Gormley's definition of art is shared, emphasizing individual freedom and optimism.

Art's role in challenging opinions, opening horizons, and exposing hidden truths is discussed, positioning it as society's conscience.

The importance of art in advocating for difference, giving voice to the 'other', and highlighting sidelined issues is emphasized.

Art is described as a barometer of society, serving as moral and intellectual resistance, shaking societal norms.

The speaker calls for a greater role of art in education, viewing artistic imagination and creativity as integral to the human spirit.

Art is celebrated as the last frontier of unregulated free expression, especially in an era of increasing privatization and regulation.

The speaker concludes by encouraging the audience to open their eyes to art and to be surprised by its possibilities, ending with a Wilde quote.

Transcripts

i must confess i feel a little bit like

little miss sunshine after all these

wonderful presentations

i'm standing here on this empty stage i

have no slides no music no powerpoint

and i'm sitting here with my cards

with a speech i didn't memorize but in

any case

i really hope to inspire you to reflect

more on the important role that art has

to play in society and to do so without

images which is something very very

difficult for someone on my vocation

all art

is quite useless

wrote oscar wilde in his preface the

picture of dorian gray

it goes without saying that his balmore

are always quite tongue-in-cheek

but what i want to draw your attention

to here is the word quite

it indicates that declaring art as

utterly useless was a step too far even

for wild

how to better explain then that art is

something of an unnecessary necessity

imagine for a moment a world without art

and culture without music without cinema

without dance

opera

literature poetry

that world would be a very very dull

place devoid of imagination the one

thing that distinguishes us as human

beings from other species

without art

the banality of reality would be

intolerable

or to paraphrase nietzsche we have art

in order not to perish from the truth

what i want to talk about today is the

role of contemporary art in society why

is art important

and i'm not talking here about the one

percent of the art world the handful of

artists selling for millions of dollars

to billion billionaire oligarchs

which is a very tiny minority of what

constitutes the art world but about the

art that is engaged with society at

large

and engaging also with the key issues

that affect us all today because that is

the art that matters

today

more and more artists are inspired by

reality than by the formal properties of

that reality as we know them colors

shapes beauty

in today's complex world i believe that

art for art's sake is insufficient

it is the importance of another kind of

art that i would like to talk about

and this is what we call socially and

politically engaged art

artists working in this realm the realm

of the sociopolitical use different

media to express themselves from

traditional media like sculpture and

painting to film video performance and

installation to deal with key questions

such as democracy civil and human rights

capitalism the economy migration and

mobility the environment and the commons

and a whole host of such issues

they strive to provide a counterpoint to

the prevailing images of power and also

to the stereotypes that are fed to us by

the media

since the time of the enlightenment art

has a very long history of engagement

with the political

art is in a sense political as it is

about a person's views and freedom to

act freedom to express themselves

so art is always about taking a position

there have been moments in history where

art was put to the service of politics

and society in a program in which the

gap between the two was temporarily

bridged one can immediately think of

example of the russian avant-garde

but this effect has been always very

hard to pinpoint and to quantify

and times have changed

so that

what does art do what can it do

and why is it important

the fact of the matter is that it is

very very difficult to pigeonhole and

categorize what exactly art is and how

it functions

that is its beauty and that is its

ungraspable value for want of a better

word

it is impossible to both quantify and

qualify how art affects those who see it

because it works in mysterious latent

and very subtle ways

that's why it's always such an uphill

struggle to convince politicians of arts

funding to convince them that the value

that is the importance the significance

and the merit

of art cannot be judged by popular

consensus and numbers alone

and this is because art allows for

something that cannot be defined

therefore one can never predict the ways

in which it will affect people change

people's minds or influence their

subsequent behavior

as such it's a subtle power that changes

the world one perception at a time

and that is why art is very often seen

and rightly so as a threat by the powers

that be

the british artist anthony gormley began

by defining art as follows

art is about one person's expectation of

and their use of their own freedom to

act

art is optimistic

because it makes a person it makes a

statement that one person can change the

world

even if that world exists on a tiny

piece of paper five by seven inches

art as an act of shared communication is

in a small way saying

i make the world i don't simply inherit

it

in making this world what does art do

then

art can change the way we think

it can crack open cemented opinions and

it challenges the given it looks at the

world with a critical eye

it opens up horizons beyond those which

are familiar to us

it challenges standardized or

problematic views of the world

it exposes that which is often hidden

under the carpet

it reaches further than the accepted and

the known and beyond the inevitabilities

that we have been

told we cannot escape

art functions as the conscience of

society

the best art should ask you what you

think prompt you to ask questions and

put you into doubt

art testifies to the power of the human

imagination the unique capacity of

humans to project to dream and to

reflect on things not only as they are

but as they could or should be

in a world driven by popular consensus

including for example the homogenization

of globalization and the general

dominance of conservative values art

advocates difference and gives voice to

the other with a capital o

it highlights important ideas problems

and issues that are sidelined or

silenced due to political or economic

interests

art functions as the barometer of

society

as a moral and intellectual resistance

and as a friend of mine the south

african artist kendall gear says

art shakes the tree and then all the

monkeys fall out

art doesn't change the world on a macro

level it changes the world on a micro

level

in that sense its importance cannot be

measured

art changes things in very subtle ways

it is a form of soft power

artists themselves are a kind of

free-floating intelligence independently

operating untied individuals who are

free of the normative thinking of their

environment and are able to act

independently of social or class

realities

art can foster dialogue reconciliation

engagement solidarity connectivity and

understanding of those with opposing

views

i'm convinced that if more people

engaged with it the world would be a

much better place

in that sense art should also have a

much more important place in school

curriculums and education

artistic imagination and creativity are

not added bonuses for society they're

not the icing on the cake

they are integral to the human spirit

and to human aspirations an essential

part of what makes us human art thinks

about the world in its current state

and it can reimagine the world as it

should be

more importantly

art is the last frontier of unregulated

free expression which is particularly

important at a time when the commons

public space and information are

increasingly being privatized and

regulated by the neoliberal order

in that sense art is born of and

advocates freedom

artists always see a world full of

opportunities chances potential

possibilities and prospects

their ability to go beyond the possible

and into the imaginable should be an

example and an inspiration for us all

and as i started with oscar wilde i'd

also like to finish with him

no great artist sees things as they

really are

if he did he would cease to be an artist

open your eyes to art and surprise

yourself

thank you