Is There a Relation Between Art and Class - Essay Example

Is There a Relation Between Art and Class? An interesting topic for conversation was posed before the students in our class with our most recent writing assignment. The most basic question being asked was whether there was some sort of co-relation between Art and Class? While there are those who will immediately answer that there is no relation whatsoever between the two, I will beg to disagree and say that there is definitely a relation between art and class. It is just that the relationship is not one that is obvious because it is not promoted as part of an ideology or lifestyle by the mass media to the people. This paper will try to shed light on this particular discussion using my argument that there is a relationship between Art and Class. Let us consider the facts. The United States of America has long been a part of the caste system of the world. But unlike other castes the American caste is easy to discern and determine. There are only 3 classes of Americans in our society which are identified as the “lower, middle, and upper” classes of society. For each type of class, there is a specific lifestyle and social portrayal that becomes imprinted in the minds of the people because of the way mainstream media subconsciously plants these ideas and images in our heads. Although the social classes in the United States are not openly discussed nor widely tacked in mass media, it is still covered by the artists such as painters and photographers who have a keen eye not only for the composition of a photograph, but also for its deeper meaning. That is why the discussion of social class occasionally comes up at art shows and the like. Photos such as Dorothes Lange's Migrant Mother, which depicts a a migrant worker at rest at a migrant camp in Nipomo,California, has often been used to depict the struggle of the middle and lower class in the country. It is described by many as the embodiment of the aftermath of World War 2 on the United States. It is viewed as depicting “... both social documentary and the populist politics of the great depression” (Stein, 345). With the image of the Migrant Mother in mind, get a clearer example of how art serves to be an indirect commentary of the times that we live in and the existing social classes. This picture, which was originally commissioned for the New Deal's Farm Security Administration as part of its propaganda campaign meant to promote the growing file of government pictures has taken on a life of its own and actually become a widely used photographic piece. Whenever a discussion about family or workers comes up in the world of photography, this photograph will either be seen or brought up in a conversation. I know, I have been on one end of such a discussion. The composition of the picture tells us everything that we need to know about the almost hidden “middle class” life of Americans. Yet, the discussion about the photograph rarely veers towards the topic that I believe it was intended for. A robust discussion of the status of the middle class Americans today. Granted that the title indicates a migrant worker, that person, the migrant worker, still works for a middle class family in the United States. So the discussion should center around that and nothing else. Art serves class because it opens the floodgates of discussion and debate on the viewing floor. It helps to open the mind of people to a world it has not seen before or perhaps, a world that is little understood by most. Thus art becomes an effective social studies teacher in the sense that it allows a person to immerse himself in the life and times of the other side without actually becoming a part of it. It becomes a 3-D tool through which the struggles of the social classes become evident for discussion or pondering. I believe however, that there are ethical and moral limitations to the way that art is used to show or talk about class. For example, the images from Hurricane Katrina all made for wonderful photographic pieces. However, there are scenes that should be omitted if it will prove to be too controversial a topic or one that will make the stomach churn to the point of vomiting. There is always a method by which art can tactfully represent the struggle of a class of people without crossing the lines of decency, morality, and public taste. More evidence of the relationship between art and class can be seen in the programs and movies that the entertainment industry is churning out like a production line. Classic shows such as “The Honeymooners” depicted the struggle of the middle class American family to make ends meet while living the “American Dream” meant for their station in life. More recently, “The Simpsons” have taken over that role with Homer Simpsom embodying the average American “working class” family. Working class... the more politically correct term for “middle class”. I will never understand why the terms have to be changed in the name of “political correctness”. That however, should be reserved for another discussion. Getting back to the topic... Art forms such as the animated depiction of the “middle class” American life on “The Simpsons” helps to keep the discussion about “middle class” American families alive. Showing how the middle class can also be divided into sub groups while still sharing the same life experiences. In a way, the depiction of life in cartoons is a method by which the “middle class” manage to remain united in our society. By giving them a set of people to identify with such as “The Simpsons” or “The Honeymooners”, the discussion and debate about middle class life continues to grow. Therefore the cartoon is more than just an animated show, just like “Migrant Mother”, “The Simpsons” is an art form that has become a platform for public discussion and debate. Inspiring discussions about the middle class and what can be done to improve its lot. In his essay “The Dispossessed”, William Deresiewicz went into a lengthy discussion of the fast disappearing “Middle Class” in the United States. He pointed out that just because the term is being retired, that does not mean that the “Middle Class” no longer exists. It is kind of like a person that merely changed his clothes, but is still the same person. In his interview with gay choreographer Bill T. Jones, we learn that for the middle class, their life is not about the class or caste system. It was simply about survival. To quote Mr. Jones ; “You don't understand. This wasn't a middle-class family. The goal wasn't to become a professional: the goal was to better yourself” (Deresiewicz, 529). This is another piece of information that further proves the direct relationship between art and class. Jones came from a middle-class family, but he never viewed it as a problem because he had a direction in life and his art was what gave him that direction. Therefore, art may truly have a uniting effect when it comes to class. It unites the desire of one to improve himself while promoting his craft as well. Art is an excellent representation of life. Be it lower, middle, or upper, art has the ability to bring to the forefront the hidden message of these class systems. These are messages that cannot be ignored and will be discussed for years or decades to come. Sources Deresiewicz, W. (n.d.). The Dispossessed. Stein, S. (n.d.). Passing likeness. zscalarts.files. zscalartsfiles. Retrieved from http://zscalarts.files.wordpress.com/2013/12/passing-likeness_0012.pdf Read More