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52 Examples of the Importance Of Art

John Spacey, April 23, 2022

Art is the human pursuit of creative visual expression. This is broadly viewed as a foundation of culture, an important element of the human experience and as an advanced form of economic activity. As such, the importance of art can be described in philosophical, social or economic terms. The importance of art can be described with poetic words that capture its contributions to life, culture and the human spirit. Alternatively, it can be measured in dollars with bland capitalist realism that focuses on the wealth it creates or its contributions to industries and employment. The following are common arguments for the importance of art.

Advances Civilization / Culture	An Element of Early Childhood Development
An Expression of the Inexpressible	Art As a Source of Entertainment / Leisure / Recreation
Art Economy	Art Education as a Source of Cultural Experience / Capacity
Art as a Decorative Feature of Environments	Art as a Journey that Shapes the Artist
Art for Art's Sake	Asks Questions
Avenue for Self-fulfilment	Captures the Spirit of a Time and Place
Capturing the Spirit of Subjects / The Artist	Challenge The Viewer / Audience
Challenges / Shapes Aesthetics	Challenges Materialism
Challenges Mediocrity & Complacency	Challenges the Industrialization / Systematization of Life
Creates / Visualizes Concepts	Creative Inspiration
Cultural Life	Defends Mystery, Chaos and Wonder
Disruption of the Status Quo	Epic Experience
Expression of Truth	Form of Cultural Criticism
Form of Human Progress	Form of Intellectual Risk Taking
Form of Knowledge	Form of Political Expression / Political Participation
Form of Storytelling	Form of Tradition / Cross-generational Experience
Helps to Define Humanity / What It Means To Be Human	Highest Form of Human Expression
Important to Tourism Industry	Increases Quality of Life
Injects Color and Meaning Into Life	Limitless Frontier of Human Expression
May Promote Emotional Depth / Wellness	Museum / Cultural Economy
Potent Form of Human Communication	Preserves Historical Viewpoints
Preserves a Moment in Time	Production of Art Based Products and Services
Provides a Voice	Source of Joy and Wonder
Store of Wealth	Street Art Challenges Bland Urban Environments
To Advance Human Life Beyond Bland Realities of Safety and Survival	Value of Commercial Art
Visualization of Emotion	Visualizes the Imagination