Arts
Introduction
Art was an embodiment of a talent, and whoever had such a gift during the gilded age, was considered lucky. Art was used as a means of creating images, passing information and communicating in artistic languages. The Gilded Age was a period whereby the US was divided according to classes. The ‘Haves and the Have nots’, were the two types of classes in the country. The Haves, represented people of the upper class, while the Have nots represented people of the lower class. The have nots worked for the Haves, in order to make a living. On the contrary, art was not only been used as a means of earning money, but as a means of reflecting the society. Many artists, who include Edward Bannister, Gari Melchers, Caroline Alstor, and Carolus Duran. In this article I will consequently discuss the influence of art on both the society and the judicial system in the twentieth century.
The Reflection of the Society by Art During and after Gilded Age
In the course of the gilded age, art in the US society flourished, hence it influenced the shaping of the society in different ways. The artworks which were painted during the gilded age, symbolized the reign of industrialization, and a dominant representation of the growth of America, and the discoveries which had already emerged (Downing, 2011). This age is also remembered as a channel to the revelation of the cultural transformations, portrayed in dissimilar social illustrations, which had prejudiced and affected the condition of the American society. A good example of a painting during the gilded age is the “Tree Landscape” by Edward Bannister. The painting epitomized the impressions which were mounting owing to the rural areas of the Rhode Island. During this period, art was used as a means of embracing the painting design of landscape art. The “Tree Landscape” consequently signifies accord and spirituality of differentiated issues in the social representation of the American society (Lampert, 2013).
Gari Melchers painting of Theodore Roosevelt inspected and analysed social relations and societal guidelines during the period of gilded age. Similarly, a different painting which symbolized the Gilded Age was Caroline Astor’s image by Carolus Duran (Lampert, 2013). Art work was highly interconnected with New York where the Haves who included the queen highly respected fashion. This consequently explains how art influenced the cultural, economic and social lives of the Americans during the gilded age. Art consequently portrayed different aspects of the society, which were not portrayed by other factors (Downing, 2011).
Art and 20th Century Social Justice Movements.
A social justice movement, is a system which emerges in order to respond to states of inequality, coercion and unmet political, economic, and social demands. In this setting, art has both defied and moulded the American society in dissimilar ways through surrounding in which to build, encourage, raise and promote change (Upchurch, 2009). For instance, graphic laser printing, has really helped in the creation and distribution of large flyers and posters, for viable advertising in support and distribution of the demands of culture in the present day. This has therefore become an imaginative and artistic form of countenance which helps in the airing of people’s voices. In the modern day, through the help of portraits and visual arts, expressionism brings about a comprehensible movement against social injustices which has been able to shape the morals and opinions of Americans (Dreier, 2012).
America’s resolution to find the principles to align the political and social order of the liberal era which had developed in the 19th and 20th centuries, was applied to find liberty and equality in the 20th century. Americans found themselves challenged to fight for their own rights, due to the injustices which had prevailed (Upchurch, 2009). This led to the formation of labour movements, political movement, and women’s suffrage movements, in order to fight for their rights. When people unite and form social movements in order to fight for justice, they will consequently emerge victorious, hence being able to enjoy the fruits of their efforts. This therefore led to the formation of a just and better United States (Dreier, 2012).
Diversification
The gilded age, art was used as a means of industrialization, expansion, due to the economic influence that it had to the growth of the economy of the US (Lampert, 2013). Art majorly focused its assortment on the Haves, who were of the upper class, the arrival of the European immigrants and the political partisans. After the end of the gilded age, the great depression emerged. Art concentrated on the scuffles of families, the immigration to the west to find new forecasts, and new techniques of bringing the skills of what is seen to the world (Conner, 2013).
Most artists moved to Europe in order to explore different areas of the world, through the use of art. In addition, they improved and even used art in order to influence different places in Europe. Art was basically about diversification, in the sense that it allowed artists to move to different parts of the world, using art influence the dictates of different societies. In the US, new artistic representations started emerging, and there was also the need to improve art (Lampert, 2013). This consequently led to the invention of different forms art, which led to photography which was a way of improving art. During this time, industrialization dominated in the US, making it easier for the country to invest in art. Diversity was the driving factor of art, thus making most artists to be able to perform art in different parts of the US. Due to diversity, artists were able to pass their messages and influence the American society at ease. Art was consequently able to bringing people in the society, making them to relate positively with each other, hence being able to improve the cultural dictates of the US (Conner, 2013).
My Opinion on the Role of Art Today
Art shows who we are and what our beliefs in the modern day. People from different parts of the world draw different paintings due to what they are passing through. In addition art acts as a reflection of what the society has to offer. In other words, art describes the type of lives we lead, and influences as to lead such types of lives (Conner, 2013). Furthermore, art enables us to learn through vision the way we are supposed to undertake different tasks in our lives. Due to the historical preservation of paintings and other artistic materials, we are able to understand where we came from, and to also preserve our culture. For instance, through Carolus Duran’s image of Mrs. Caroline, we are able to understand how past events were characterized, and the mode of dressing of the past. This consequently opens our eyes, making as to embrace our own culture (Lampert, 2013).
In modern day world, art characterizes evolution, through different forms of art. Art is currently being used in most industries all over the world (Conner, 2013). When it comes to designing, art must be involved, a move which consequently makes most things to be related to art. Over the years, different forms of art and designs have emerged, thus signifying the way art changes from time to time. For instance, the architecture of the 19th century was not similar to that of the 20th century. As time goes by, art changes, leading to overall changes in the world.
Due to technological advancements in the 21st century, art helps in understanding the developments in the world. Through art, new technological advancements have been reached, hence leading to diversity across the world (Lampert, 2013). Art and design have also been used to come up with different inventions which could have not been imagined, hence leading to technological advancements in the world (Conner, 2013). Art has therefore changed technological developments in the world, and it will also change technological developments in the world, since art is the core of industrialization all over the world.
Conclusion
In this paper, I have discussed about the reflection of the society by art during the gilded age, the impact of art in the 20th century social justice movement, art and diversification, and I have given out my opinion on the impact of art in the modern day world. In the paper, I have provided the reason as to why art is influenced social, cultural and economic developments in the US during the gilded age. Moreover, I have also explained how diversification enabled art to spread all over the US, thus bringing the haves and the have nots together in the US. Furthermore, most artists were also able to move to different parts of the world freely without any problems at all. Finally, art impacted modern day world through improving the technological advancements all over the world.
Reference
Downing, J. D. H. (2011). Encyclopedia of social movement media. Los Angeles [etc.: Sage Publications.
Upchurch, T. A. (2009). Historical dictionary of the Gilded Age. Lanham, Md: Scarecrow Press.
Conner, L. (2013). Audience engagement and the role of arts talk in the digital era.
Dreier, P. (2012). The 100 greatest Americans of the 20th century: A social justice hall of fame. New York: Nation Books.
Lampert, N. (2013). A people's art history of the United States: 250 years of activist art and artists working in social justice movements.
