Art in Many Forms

From visiting a museum to sitting at home with a book—it’s all art

By: Lydia Tallarini

There’s something oddly appealing about museums. More than the exhibits, there’s an air of mystery—possibly because of the artworks’ rich historical and cultural value or maybe because of their astronomical resale potential. But either way, that “something more” propels me to return and rediscover the separate world of art, so hidden from my everyday life.

Why is that world so different? Why are paintings and sculptures categorized as “fine” art while books, movies, and pop music are just “entertainment?” It seems a little unfair to classify creative works like that, but it does partially convey the cultural differences in the perception of the origin and function of each art form.

Art was, at first, an expression of wealth. Aristocrats commissioned pieces, and beauty usually played the foremost role until artists became more independent. With the rise of the modern art movement, they began to create what they wanted, and sometimes that meant spitting in the face of convention. The role of the artist changed to challenging the expectations of their patrons rather than flattering and conforming to them.

Novels, films, and music, on the other hand, are more like extensions of folk art. Usually, they’re made to tell stories and entertain—the existential questions are often just a part of that. These forms of art are more common in our lives, leading to more popular support. Sometimes the ease of sinking into a state of entertainment leads to escapism, where we distract ourselves from reality, but that still adds to our human experience. Perhaps living another life for a bit provides comfort, a new perspective, or food for thought.

Regardless, whether one picks up a book and listens to music before bed or visits a gallery, a new world is being discovered. To experience the product of another’s creativity is a gift worth appreciating, no matter how one does it.