Week 1 Introduction Lecture

WHAT GOOD ARE THE ARTS?

This question was given at the beginning of our only lecture this semester. The teacher introduced a book written by John Carey, What Good Are The Arts?. The question seemed to be simple, but we found it was actually difficult since the definition and benefits of the arts were too board to be concluded into one sentence. We were then set a task to present our own ideas of the arts in groups rather than plain discussion. The form of presentation was not limited, thus it could be a song, a poem or any other creative arts forms.

Our group made a piece of drawing of a heart shape. The “heart” could be formed by a group of people or an individual.  The benefits of the arts we want to express thru this picture are:

• The arts allow self-expression, but also encourage collaboration;
• The arts can help people to communicate in other ways rather than just talking;
• The arts do not impose any limitation on both people and forms of presentation;
• The arts can also develop children's imagination and interests.

 

As an audience of other groups' presentation, I noticed that the majority of them connect their works with literature, such as poems. Those groups used many symbolic language and rhyme to make the poems meaningful and fun. Their vocal and facial expression was also effective to help the audience to understand their ideas. The combination of the arts and literature could motivate the class to achieve better results; furthermore, it would improve students’ learning skills and imagination as recommended in the KLAs.

Carey argued in pre-industrial societies that art was "spread through the whole community". Nowadays even in primary schools, people increasingly agree that learning the arts has many benefits that cannot be provided in other subjects like mathematics. I would like to ask this question in my future class and ask them to do the task as well, since during the process of thinking and discussing, students could benefit from the arts better.

Reference:
Morrison,B.2005 The Guardian. A lesson with the art master: Blake Morrison enjoys John Carey's inspiring look at our attitudes to culture, What Good Are the Arts?http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2005/jun/11/highereducation.news