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Our Artists and Musicians of the future at risk of extinction?
As a musician and artist myself, I cannot imagine a life without being able to sing, play an instrument, paint a piece, or shoot a photo. These things for me, like so many others, made life and school a little more bareble in my earlier years. Now, with that said, can you imagine schools without these extracurricular activities? Many schools across the nation have deemed these programs "unnecessary" for the student curiculum, and yet, supports the sports programs unquestionably. For many, Art and Music is a "destresser" and while doing so it is the only time that they feel excepted by their peers. These things encourage creativity and personality. It may not be everyone's cup of tea is to go outside and run chasing a soccer ball, to write a short story for English or even to solve an algebraic equation. It is this area alone where some students find that they excel in. I want to know why is it that Art and Music Programs around the nation are starting to dwindle away when there is so much good that can potentially come out of these classes? Many schools think that this topic/these classes are unimportant in the wider view of things. If everyone chooses their own path, and there is already so much bad in the world, why not encourage a positive program and may appeal to some, though not others? Art and Music keeps some kids off the streets, gives them a reason to go to school at all. I can't understand why school districts would take our potential genius Artists and Musicians of the future hopes away, especially when it very well may be all that they have. Math is necessary, as is History and English, but to some, so is Art and Music. It is not just something to be interested in. For many, such as myself, it is a way of life and living.
Nicholas Lukowiak 50+
Check out transhumanism in art.
All the great subjects; art, music, math, philosophy - should be apart of a child's curriculum... Creativity without academics is going to produce nothing original.
Bernd Fesel 30+
Besides their musical practices and inspirations, we also talked Nu Park about their future aims, their approach to the city that they live and work.
http://www.2010lab.tv/en/blog/innovative-and-multi-genre-band-nu-park-part-2
Is the state of affairs everywhere really the same?
timber maniac 20+
Bernd Fesel 30+
in a way these are pay offs, though not in cash, but just as or even more rewarding?
Bernd Fesel 30+
But maybe I can name an example and reason that helps you arguing your case in the US:
In Germany the State of North-Rhine Westfalia implemented a program for all school kids in the 5 - 7 grade: each child could choose an instrument and learn it for 3 years - all costs paid: the instrument and the teaching.
The reason behind it followed this thought:
what do you teach children for live if 50% of the jobs they could work in in 25 years are not existing today? Did we know anything about the iPad 5 years ago?
Our government decided to teach and enable kids to grasp "the new", to switch perspective and to view details in a larger context ( composition)... you teach them tools for life: Music is doing this at a very early age.
Once you are good musician, you can be anything - lead a car company or do math.... but the other way round...?
our centre however goes a different way - non-music, non curriculum: we promotes street art outside of schools - to give more creativity to kids; to change things within the school system is very difficult and take 15 years in Germany .... too long: http://bit.ly/AiBKAd
Empire Tucci
noel akins 10+
Aidan Parchelo
If there is ever any doubt, my favourite argument would have to be this:
http://www.ted.com/talks/astonishing_performance_by_a_venezuelan_youth_orchestra_1.html
Elena Khaled
I would like to touch on one thing though that I find upsetting. The division between Art and Music and English papers, math problems, and sports. This is not something, Mandy, that I think you are alone in doing. We are all taught that these subjects are separate and completely unrelated to one another. It would be much more fruitful to go back to a pedagogy that highlights the intersection of all these schools of thought.
Art = Geometry = Math = Music = Poetry = English = History = Geography = Geology = Chemistry = Physics = Sports
you get the idea! haha, I think some of the subjects are a bit of a leap, but I hope I illustrated my point.
Thanks for your question Mandy!
Dick Morel
Allan Macdougall 30+
It may seem that the arts will live or die according to what society deems as important, but my thoughts are that such value judgements are distorted by the vagaries of ‘current reality’.
Modern society (the current reality) marks what it thinks is important by a willingness to pay for it. If the arts are struggling, it means that those who wield acquisitive power do not value it for what it is. In other words, it is monetary value that seems to be the primary marker we use to value things. However, monetary value and intrinsic value are entirely different. Monetary value is myopic, and only sees those things that respond primarily to economic criteria.
The intrinsic value of music and the arts generally, will always be present in the minds of the people like you and me who produce it and appreciate its greater value – despite the falsifying effects of its perceived importance in economic terms.
So in answer to your question – no, I do not think music will become extinct, because the intrinsic value of it is extremely high. Music is an essential part of our lives, and it is the arts that make us feel alive and connected to a kind of ‘otherness’ in the world.
Rhona Pavis 50+
Alessia Cesana
The precision and dedication required to learn art, even if you have a talent for that, are qualities needed in all field. A mind that is able to think broader is necessary in a world like ours where things are in one minute and out the next. Art is made of connections, so understanding art will develop your mind into one able to connect things and take conclusions.
Especially if you will not be an artist in your future, you should have the broadest education ever and so one including the arts too.
I don't think it is a necessity only to the few that will eventually be artists, even if depriving them of the possibility to discover their talent even when the family environment is not able to do it is a real problem. I think they will discover it eventually, but it may be too late.
School must educate the future generations of creativity.
Phillip McKay
I have been reading ' Sex Genes and Rock ' n Roll by Rob Brooks. (you might like if you havent already) and it is kind of cute to imagine ourselves using music before we developed language. Like some beautiful bird song. Music, it is suggested, developed to attract sexual partners. Rock stars are likely to have more opportunity to pass their genes on. (no arguing against that) Indeed, though art has been unkind to me financially, i cant help but believe its also sexy. Perhaps therein lies the problem. Maybe we dont like teaching things that are too sexy?
Of course community art and dance and music have been central to nearly all cultures. In reality it is our universal meeting ground. One large world orgy if you like.
I'm sure there's something in it. I'm sure there's some fear. Institutions have always known the power of art. The religions hijacked so much of it throughout the ages. (Turned out some fine examples no doubt) Sorry I'm getting off track. Hmmm. Lets not worry too much though Mandy. Music, art dance will always be around. It finds it way up through the cracks in people like you and me. Just a shame we dont water it enough. see ya.
Mandy Franciskovich
Spencer Ferri
This next bit is conjecture on my part, based on what I've learned about the media industry and how our economy works. Art is capitalized in many forms by media corporations. Since our society is built upon the swirling money-trade, those artistic processes which are more expensive to create are the ones most valued, as they create more money through their massive spending.
Media corporations of this kind profit more by selling many simple artistic units, made by fewer individuals. Corporations profit if they can sell that art for it's intrinsic value as art, but diminish the cost of its production - simple art is more valuable to a corporation than complex art since the experiential value may be equal or greater if the consumer accepts the ease of 'simple art' over 'complex art' - and the average person has, haven't they?
In response to these focuses, Underground and Alternative styles of complex and rebellious art have formed. U&A art styles are not as profitable by corporations, so they are not produced or advertised as a primary product. But thanks to the internet, there has been a growing awareness of U&A art. These movements are making it difficult to maintain profitable companies revolving around art.
If we can abolish entertainment industry, we can shift the focus of our industrial efforts to the practical infrastructure of our world and 'free time' for people, allowing more time for art and creating a greater focus on local art. Art education will then be fundamental for our communities' cultures.
Kieran Preissler
Mandy Franciskovich
Kieran Preissler
Jon Miner
Thanks for your topic. Don't worry. Even though we are experiencing a hard time because of the push to raise up the sciences, the failures of such an approach are obvious to many people, not only artists such as yourself.
Right now, you need to focus on your own creativity. Don't be afraid of the future. Just help create a more beautiful one.
Huw Humphreys
Johan Cegrell 200+
I realized that as not a creator but as an audience of art, my tastes and moods should never infringe the creation or exploration of art.
I way not understand or appreciate all form of art, but I do understand that different forms of art are not isolated islands but instead interconnected and evolves together. It sparks the imagination and wonder which in turn engages people like me to try and bring the same imagination and wonder to our own lifes and professions.
For me the discussion is summerized by a quote from a TV-show.
"There is a connection between the progress of a society and the progress in the arts.
The age of Perikles was also the age of Fidius.
The age of Lorezo dé Medici was also the age of Leonardo da Vinci,
and the age of Elizabeth was the age of Shakespeare."
-Toby Ziegler.
Fritzie Reisner 100+
Jean-Pierre Walker 20+
I actually believe art and music is just as necessary as math or english, and, even if Art and Music programs get eliminated from each and every school, i am sure there will be another institution which would keep the music playing.