Culture and the Arts

Culture is “the arts and other manifestations of human intellectual achievement regarded collectively” (Webster). Culture is everything that makes up a person and their entire way of life. There are many different cultures but most cultures have a the “basics” in common. Culture is made up of language, economics, social status, political/government, education, arts and religion. Many cultures of today also include technology. Language is based on where you or your family were born. Economics is based on money, occupation, family lineage, etc. Social Status is mostly based on economics. Government and education is based on where you live. Art and religion can be either based on where you are from or personal preference.   Art is “the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, typically in a visual form   such as painting or sculpture, producing works to be appreciated primarily for their beauty or emotional power” (Google Definitions). There are many types of art. There is visual art which is, but not limited to, paintings, sculpture, ceramics, and film. There is architecture, which is the art or practice of designing and constructing buildings. There is Music, which is vocal or instrumental sounds (or both) combined in such a way as to produce beauty of form, harmony, and expression of emotion. There is also literature, which is written works, especially those considered of superior or lasting artistic merit. The relationship between culture and art is simple. Every culture is different but still is made up of the same things. Every piece of art is different but is made up of the same things as well. In every culture you have a family. Your family is the basis of your culture. In art everything starts with an idea. How you put that idea into the universe is up to you but it starts in the mind. That brings me to the role of the artist. The roll of the artist is to use his or her medium and style in order to convey a chosen purpose....