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Why do humans create art?
- Thread starter Zeta
- Start date
Zeta,
Are you sure you want this topic in a DIR? DIRs are special forums on RF whose intent is fellowship amongst those who identify with the given group, in this case, non-theists/non-religious. Debate is prohibited in DIRs, and discussions are limited to those who identify as (in this specific case) as non-theist and/or non-religious. Anybody who isn't a non-theist and/or non-religious can't respond to your topic without breaking the rules, unless they ask a respectful question. If you really intended to limit this topic to our non-theist/non-religious members and have it be a discussion (no debate!) only, that's fine, I just thought I'd ask.
Are you sure you want this topic in a DIR? DIRs are special forums on RF whose intent is fellowship amongst those who identify with the given group, in this case, non-theists/non-religious. Debate is prohibited in DIRs, and discussions are limited to those who identify as (in this specific case) as non-theist and/or non-religious. Anybody who isn't a non-theist and/or non-religious can't respond to your topic without breaking the rules, unless they ask a respectful question. If you really intended to limit this topic to our non-theist/non-religious members and have it be a discussion (no debate!) only, that's fine, I just thought I'd ask.
morphesium
Active Member
Human beings are creative and fun loving, inquisitive and are philomath (a person who enjoys learning new facts and acquiring new knowledge) innately.
Mathematics describes arts equally as it describes the universe. Fibonacci rectangle, harmonics in music. In fact we have mathematical computer programs that can compose music (create music) with little help from humans, or can make the music more pleasurable by adding or rearranging or deleting or altering the tempo of the musical notes. mp3 players use mathematical logic for error correction and to re-create the original music. nature, arts and mathematics are too much connected. (I have read somewhere that in both musicians and mathematicians - it is the same areas of the brain that is highly developed).
Art (and beauty) is every where, even in the animal kingdom. I have seen documentaries, where if the male bird didn't make the nest beautiful enough, the female bird will reject him. Beauty is everywhere in nature.
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Animals paint...
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/animals/photos/12-artsy-animals-that-paint/meerkats
Why humans create art? So they can share/express to others their subjective experience. Through storytelling, through song, through painting.
The animals that paint, I don't know whether they are mimicking humans or on some level actually expressing themselves.
Think of it as language and it makes more sense (to me at least).
Words aren't the only means of expressing thought, and for some forms of communication they are pretty clumsy.
Words aren't the only means of expressing thought, and for some forms of communication they are pretty clumsy.
Mycroft
Ministry of Serendipity
The reasons vary from things such as propaganda (particularly in religion) to catharsis to communication. Fundamentally, however, art is about therapy. Allow me to explain.
Take a look at this image of Warships in a Heavy Storm by Ludolf Backhuysen.
It looks terrible. How could anyone survive this?
But the boats were designed for this, their hulls minutely adapted for these conditions. The crew have practiced for this. This is an homage to planning and experience. The older sailors on the ship are saying to the novice, with a laugh, that just last year off the coast of Jutland, there was an even bigger storm - and slapping him on the back with paternal playfulness as the youth is sick overboard.
This painting is telling us that should feel proud of humanity’s competence and skill in the face of these dreadful but strangely awe-inspiring challenges. We’ re better able to cope than we think.
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Art is a form of communication and, often. entertainment. I also have to agree with Mycroft as art is a form of therapy, especially when its asthetically pleasing. As social animals, we like to share our ideas and experiences and we can represent them in images, objects, etc. I've had a weird inner monologue as to whether- in some distant point in the future- computer games will be looked back on as a form of art, as they are not only a way to entertian people but often a form of story telling. it will depend on the game, but as it won't be going away any time soon I can imagine that is possible. If there is a record of the early internet, historians will probably be debating why humanity was so obssessed with cat videos and what was the symbolism of this obsession. Television could also be considered a form of popular art, but the thing is generally only the very best will survive and be passed down from one generation to the next.
It could therefore be argued that art is part of the human pursuit of immortality in that we add to a stream of collective consciousness flowing through time. Some art has both the ability to capture a moment in this own time and yet simultaneously become timeless. Through Art, Music and literature, we are able to see, hear, think and feel what people before us did and share a glimpse into their imagination. the individual may be lost, their world lost to time, but their works lives on. In Art, we can often go beyond our physical limitations and pursue if not achieve the sublime. Sometimes fiction is the best medium for truth.
Humans create art to express themselves. These are things only a higher intellect appreciates and is driven towards. But even beyond humans, I think God/Brahman creates art by creating the universe. I see the universe as a great play/drama of Brahman; His creative aspect.
The Ardent Atheist
Member
Honestly, I think that art has its origins in entertainment. As our brains evolved and our intellects grew, our species began experiencing a new emotion: boredom. 
Our ancestors told stories to entertain. They created music and paintings to entertain. Sure, we moderns attach "higher" meaning to these activities, but the primal reason is to ward off boredom.
Our ancestors told stories to entertain. They created music and paintings to entertain. Sure, we moderns attach "higher" meaning to these activities, but the primal reason is to ward off boredom.
Most of the major categories of art -- painting, sculpture, music, etc -- date back to at least 30,000 years ago, and seem to be originally associated with some kind of religiosity. Or, at least the visual arts do.
I think today the motives for producing art are often quite different from the more likely motives for producing art during its origin period.
For instance, I paint, write, and compose poetry mostly for the fun of it, and my paintings, writings, and poetry are in no way a religious expression.
As for the notion that art is produced to stave off boredom, I suppose that's true of some people. But for myself, when I want to stave off boredom, I hang out on RF, visit with friends, watch movies, etc. I don't recall ever doing art just to stave off boredom.
Again, as for the notion that art is produced to express oneself -- well, that's probably true of some people. But I just do it because it's fun.
I think today the motives for producing art are often quite different from the more likely motives for producing art during its origin period.
For instance, I paint, write, and compose poetry mostly for the fun of it, and my paintings, writings, and poetry are in no way a religious expression.
As for the notion that art is produced to stave off boredom, I suppose that's true of some people. But for myself, when I want to stave off boredom, I hang out on RF, visit with friends, watch movies, etc. I don't recall ever doing art just to stave off boredom.
Again, as for the notion that art is produced to express oneself -- well, that's probably true of some people. But I just do it because it's fun.
The Ardent Atheist
Member
When I said that art is done to ward off boredom, I meant for the audience's sake. The creator may have his own motives--expression, ego, etc.--but the main reason a person listens to music or reads a novel or watches a movie is to ward off boredom.
rocala
Well-Known Member
Absolutely.
I would suggest that humans (and others) create "art" in order to communicate--with each other, with themselves across time and space, with the other-than-human-persons they interact with in the environment. In its simplest form, it is a means of passing the time while maintaining social connections, but at its most developed, it communicates the awe and wonder of our experiences.
I can only speak for myself. If I look at the question from the standpoint of a consumer, then sure, art is about such things as alleviating boredom, communicating a message, etc. But if I look at the same question from the standpoint of what motivates me to mess around painting, drawing, writing, etc, then art is about having fun. Any self-expression, escape from boredom, or communication that results from creating art is incidental to why I create it. Again, I am only talking about my personal motive.
Kilgore Trout
Misanthropic Humanist
People need something to buy to put on their walls, shelves, and tables.
Kilgore Trout
Misanthropic Humanist
And on their backs....
Doesn't this just give you heretofore unknown feelings?
I knew what they were. I just never knew a mere shirt could incite them.
Ow! I had a headache anyway; now it hurts worse!And on their backs....
Doesn't this just give you heretofore unknown feelings?
Great art can do that to one.Ow! I had a headache anyway; now it hurts worse!