The Enduring Roles of Art and Creativity in Society
The basic roles of art in society are unchanging. The arts provide a primarily nonverbal and frequently symbolic way in which humans can communicate the deepest and most important aspects of their humanity. These are areas that simply cannot be adequately communicated by the linear methods of words. These areas include love and joy, pain and suffering, respect and exaltation. None of these can be adequately described in mere words. Yet in many of the arts - in visual art, music, perhaps poetry and some theater - it is possible for these feelings, these realities, to be communicated, shared, and experienced at a deeper level through the vehicle of the arts.
The Changing Landscape of Art and Design
Furthermore, in the creation of art and the offering it up, there can be a deep relational experience that is meaningful and perhaps unlike other relationships. This does not always exist, but it can. In the present day, art and its cousin design pervade almost every corner of human existence. This is a change and a welcome one. Everything on the web except maybe a Quora answer page is designed; all packaging and labels are designed, and of course, products. In homes, design and art are everywhere. In the past, this was true only in the homes of the wealthy. Now everyone partakes of this visual bounty. And music is basically free, also which was not true in the past. Nonetheless, despite its ubiquity or its lowered price, the roles of art do not change. I suspect that for humans, they may well be eternal.
The Complexity of Art's Function in Society
It is not an easy question to answer. It is a bit like asking what the use of language, playing, or laughter is. Art is a deeply human trait. It partly acts to cement and reinforce societies and also acts as a social lubricant. However, that is where things get complicated. Art is obviously linked to language and to some extent communication, but it is also more complex than that. At the same time, it is extraordinarily inefficient at communicating ideas or information.
If you try to convey an idea, an emotion, or anything through art, you can almost guarantee that people will get it wrong. At the same time, people will endlessly debate about it while still failing to reach a satisfactory conclusion. And that is where social reinforcement comes into it. The bottom line is that nobody really knows. The roles of art continue to evolve, but its fundamental purpose in human society remains deeply rooted in expressing the human experience in a manner that words alone cannot capture.
In conclusion, art and creativity play a vital role in society, both in the way they communicate complex emotions and ideas and in the deep relational experiences they can foster. While the landscape of art and design has changed significantly, these core roles remain unchanged and will likely continue to be essential for humanity.