What is Art? by Leo Tolstoy Book Analysis

đź“ŚCategory: Books
đź“ŚWords: 1216
đź“ŚPages: 5
đź“ŚPublished: 19 March 2022

People wonder about art and why is it so important that one learn about it. In the book What is Art? Leo Tolstoy simply defines art as “a human activity, and consequently does not exist for its own sake, but is valuable or objectionable in proportion as it is serviceable or harmful to mankind. The objective of this activity is to transmit to others feelings the artist has experienced” (Tolstoy, 1860). There is this emotion that gets captured in artist's works. Is making art a lifetime investment worth it, and does God call us to invest in it? One can analyze the phrase "the Life of the Mind" through the lens of Christianity and through different forms of art to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for art. 

Many people have different interpretations of what the phrase “life of the mind” could mean. Is there really one simple definition to that? Humans find themselves in a world where there are multiple ways to enrich one’s knowledge and understanding of the world and where it is today. They should stop and enjoy the beauty that surrounds them every day. There is something different when one sees history preserved in museums and how they influence the world over time. Present-day life is set at a high speed. Since culture is fast-paced, one often misses opportunities to be intellectually stimulated by appreciating the various beauties of artistic influences. The world is full of wonders that one must make it more of a priority to stop and take it all in. “Overwhelmed by the frenetic speed and hypnotic appeal of digital and virtual realities, we neglect genuine human relationships; we rush past the precious physical and sensory moments that bring substance to our being; we struggle to find the quietude for genuine reflection, peace, and a life of the mind” (Smolla, 2009), That being said one should slow down and enhance their minds with the beauties of this world. Art has influenced culture today and will forever affect the world no matter if one stops to appreciate it or not. 

Does the phrase “The Life of the Mind” have a different meaning when one is a Christian? God created His people in the likeness of Him. They are protectors of those bodies and should do everything in their power to take care of them by honoring God. With the world changing and technology at the tip of one's fingers, it can be forgotten how complex and wonderful God really is. It is one’s job to remember that “our experience of God is neither simply of the nature of the mind or of the feelings, but that worship and preaching, at their truest and best, engage all of the senses” (Hartley, 2005). Art is a way one can worship the Lord. This can be done by both the artist and the viewer. One should make it their life goal that they will be lifelong learners to honor God. One cannot just simply study the side that they agree with because that is a narrow field. Seeing the bigger picture can allow one to see things from a new perspective. For example, if one looks at a painting that portrays a beheading or hanging of families, he/she might just focus on the execution aspect in disgust. One might not even say that the people pictured deserved it However, with that same painting one can evaluate why the artist chose to depict that specific scene and understand the reason behind the artwork. Many factors can play a role in that kind of painting like gender, race, rank, etc. This shows that Christians cannot avoid secularism instead they should invest in learning more about that kind of culture. 

Art influence comes in different forms and has constantly changed and challenged our world throughout time. During Greek and Roman times, statues, murals, buildings, etc. were the main way to portray beauty and craftmanship.  For example, both Greek and Roman architecture styles have left their mark. The structures that the early Greeks and Romans have left behind are marveled at. Their structural integrity has been studied and applied to modern-day buildings. Greek columns are used everywhere. The White House in Washington D.C has Doric-type columns and so do many other important buildings in Washington D.C. The Eiffel Tower arches take some guidance that the Romans used when building their round arches. Just in those two examples, we see that the Greeks and Romans made an impact on present-day architecture. Architecture is not the only thing that was affected by history. Although the world has opened a new sector of art, digital art, with the advancing technology the world has to offer. Different cultures over time have left the world with many inspirations for today. 

Dancing is a form of art where a person can portray emotions and a story by just using their body. This is something that has been passed down in different cultures. One can simply look online and see how in Africa they use dancing as a traditional way of expressing their religious beliefs. In other parts of the world like the US, it is used as entertainment. Throughout the years each culture has taken movement paired with some sort of music to symbolize something in their time whether that is worshiping of idols or entertainment. There have been multiple studies on how dancing can be a health benefit and it has been categorized as a possible therapy exercise. There was one study that looked at the effects hip-hop dancing has on children who had cerebral palsy (CP). The researchers concluded that “The present study assessed the impact of the practice of adapted hip-hop dancing by children/adolescents with CP and found an effective improvement in QoL [Quality of Life] in the SG [study group], particularly in the transfer and basic mobility, sporting, and physical function, and global function and symptoms domains” (Withers, Muzzolon, & Zonta, 2019). This study shows that dancing can help the quality of life for some people. The overall picture here is that the art of dancing has affected people.

Painting lets one get a glimpse of what the world was before their time. Artists come from different backgrounds and angles when creating their masterpieces. It benefits every individual to learn from people that have a different background and history from them. It allows one to appreciate what they are trying to portray. It might not change one’s view on certain issues, but it will give the person a better understanding of the bigger picture. For example, in 1885 a mural was found in one of the passageways in the Santa Maria Church in the Roman Forum. This mural was not appealing so one does not read about this in the history books. Many people criticized the mural over its unattractive looks, “But despite the mural's amateurish appearance, it is nonetheless a valuable document that can provide useful information about the history of this part of the Forum nestled into the slopes of the Palatine hill, during the last centuries of its use” (Osborne, 1989). Overall present-day earth has kept some of its art influence traditional and other parts it has been implemented into what is current. 

In conclusion, art has shaped our world in many ways. There are several aspects that have been touched by the arts and the expression of art. That is why it is so important that we enrich our mind's life by having a lifelong interest in what is called the fine arts. So far there is no one definite interpretation for what “the Life of the Mind” truly means, but Christians should look to God as to why it is of interest. God is so complex that humans will never fully comprehend every aspect of Him. A way that one can start comprehending Him is to invest in His creation and learn from it.

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