Blog #7

OLD ESSAY:

Thomas Merton once said that “Art enables us to find ourselves and lose ourselves at the same time.”, art comes in so many different forms, but all of them hold an importance in the world and society today. Whether it is just seeing a picture that you like to a song that you can relate to, art impacts people in many ways. Benjamin Zander, a famous English conductor, and Rhys Southan, a freelance writer, both think art is an extremely important thing. Art is something that the world needs to help spread important messages and to touch the lives of people.

Throughout history the usage of photography has helped show world issues and tragedies. From pictures of the Vietnam war to pictures of just a homeless boy begging on the side of the road, photos help share a story. With the art of photography, we can help spread awareness all over the world. Art exposes the raw side of the world, it allows people to actually see the issues or event that are happening. People hear about these things but when you show them a photo it hits them how terrible things really are. Southan talks about how “most of us manage to ignore those dying of poverty and preventable disease all over the world” but with the use of photography it might motivate people to want to help these people and their situations. Lots of people do not acknowledge these problems that are occurring that they know are happening. With photography maybe, they will be forced to act to help these people in need. The photos hold the reality of what is happening in the world today. The EAs believe that it “seemed doubtful that art [has] much power to alter the world for the better” but I disagree completely.

Art holds messages that people can interpret in their own ways. For people that are artist, the use of art helps them expand their creative minds. Southan says that “artist, meanwhile, paint the beautiful landscapes in front of them while the rest of the world burns” but that is if they only choose to ignore the world problems. If art is used to share the atrocities through paintings and pictures then it is being used in an effective way. But not only does it help people realize the world’s problems, art can help those going through tough times themselves. As stated before people can relate to art, they interpret it how they would like to. People find understanding through art, I know just personally when I’m feeling down when I listen to music it helps me feel better. Art is full of “emotions that releases the human experience” (Zander). When I go to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston it is always packed, art has a large role in society today.

NEW ESSAY:

Throughout history the usage of photography has helped show world issues and tragedies. From pictures of the Vietnam war to pictures of just a homeless boy begging on the side of the road, photos help share a story. With the art of photography, we can help spread awareness all over the world. Art exposes the raw side of the world, it allows people to actually see the issues or event that are happening. People hear about these things but when you show them a photo it hits them how terrible things really are. Southan talks about how “most of us manage to ignore those dying of poverty and preventable disease all over the world” but with the use of photography it might motivate people to want to help these people and their situations. Lots of people do not acknowledge these problems that are occurring that they know are happening. With photography maybe, they will be forced to act to help these people in need. The photos hold the reality of what is happening in the world today. The EAs believe that it “seemed doubtful that art [has] much power to alter the world for the better” but I disagree completely.

Art holds messages that people can interpret in their own ways. For people that are artist, the use of art helps them expand their creative minds. Southan says that “artist, meanwhile, paint the beautiful landscapes in front of them while the rest of the world burns” but that is if they only choose to ignore the world problems. If art is used to share the atrocities through paintings and pictures then it is being used in an effective way. But not only does it help people realize the world’s problems, art can help those going through tough times themselves. As stated before people can relate to art, they interpret it how they would like to. People find understanding through art, I know just personally when I’m feeling down when I listen to music it helps me feel better. Art is full of “emotions that releases the human experience” (Zander). When I go to the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston it is always packed, art has a large role in society today.

EDITS: I completely changed my thesis to a stronger and better one. I did this so I would be able to talk more about the TED talk and the article. I made it more specific and I narrowed down the topic. I also erased a whole paragraph because it had no valid points and it was just there to fill space. The paragraph did not back up my new thesis and I did not use and quotes to back it up. I also changed a few sentences and moved some things around to make my essay flow better.