Reading the first few chapters of Coming to Your Senses and Taylor’s article “End the University as We Know It” has certainly changed the way I look at the place and purpose of fine arts. Majoring in neuroscience, I have always been more of a logical and scientific thinker.
See also: Sophic
See also: Apollonian
See also: Left-brain
See also: Socratic
What I have learned is that liberal and fine arts, reason and emotion, science and art are often intertwined. Looking back to the Greek Classical era, you will see beautiful sculptures that are not only artistic and aesthetic, but also anatomically precise.
Likewise, contemporary art can have a scientific foundation.
I have also realized that the fine arts can be a powerful way of expressing liberal arts. Art can express:
Political Science
Philosophy
Sociology
From the article “End the University as We Know It” I have seen the advantages of a more holistic education. Our college system of narrow specialization in fields has created many specialists, but at what cost? Without a cultural literacy, and an appreciation of the arts, these specialists have missed part of the human experience! As Charles Darwin lamented late in his life “The loss of [my taste for the arts] is a loss of happiness, and possibly injurious to the intellect, and more probably to the moral character.” As a boy, Darwin took great pleasure in music and Shakespearean plays. As he grew older, and devoted literally all his time to science, he lost his ability to appreciate those arts; therefore losing a part of himself. Hopefully I will not suffer this same fate.
I like your use of images in your blog. I hope that our class will help you continue to appreciate what art can do on a personal and cultural level.
ReplyDeleteBecause I am - older - I can relate to what Darwin said. It is easy to get so entrenched in what you do day after day that you ignore those things around you that could bring beauty and joy. It is good you see that now and can guard against it as you move ahead in life.
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