9.8 - The Whole Ball of Wax

Can Art Change the World? A Holistic Theory

by Jerry Saltz

When reading this article I found the notion that art has the ability to change the world the most thought provoking. The universal nature and adaptability of art allow it to do so. As a math major, analytic thinker and someone who often sees the world quantitatively, art very often is broadening my perspective and challenging me to think in a way that is not necessarily second nature. Another point I found interesting was the notion that it is impossible to view art with unbiased eyes. Every viewer brings their own background, judgements, and even morals to the table when interpreting a work. This statement really challenged me to think introspectively back on times where I thought I may have been an objective party but essentially used my own set of  value judgements that led me to think that way.

When I was reading the section of the article that talks about the bias we hold the main reference I made to this article was personal. My older brother just graduated with an art degree, and his work is constantly challenging the way I think. I was very curious about this notion due to the fact that we both have grown up in the same exact environment only a year apart, hold the same familial values yet see and express ourselves very differently. What he portrays in his art, I frequently interpret very differently.

I agree with Saltz on a majority of the arguments made within the article, and the ones that I was unsure about led me to really dive deeper and think about what led to those conclusions. The fluidity of art throughout the article really tied together all of the topics whether  he was discussing politics, culture, etc. To be honest, I wasn't entirely sold on the cat and dog analogy, but Saltz seems to be making an interesting connection by pulling in Eric Fischl's perspective on the matter.

To view the article for reference, click here.