Art and Artists' Roles in Society

To me, it seems as though McLuhan's quote is very vague and subjective, allowing for various interpretations of media, art, and culture. Let's remember that art is just not drawings, paintings, etc. It can be anything from photos, music, literature, architecture, the design of machinery and technology, miscellaneous objects, graphic design, etc. Basically, anything man-made. In the context of McLuhan's article, I don't really interpret “art” as being just paintings, drawings, sculptures, etc. (since we're relating art to media and culture) but instead, works that are shaping society at a rapid pace. Most notably, technology and mass communications. Arts such as paintings and drawings don't have as much of a sociological influence as they once had (during the Renaissance or ancient Egyptian period, for example). In more recent periods, the general public is most influenced by new technology as well as mass communications that indirectly shape culture. As an example, the article by Naomi Klein we're reading for class emphasizes the importance of marketing and “emotional advertising” in selling products. Consumers are more than ever it seems, forming their identities, views, morals, etc. through what is seen and marketed in the media. This can be from things as superficial as clothing to as personal as religious and/or political views. Though this occurs indirectly and over a period of time, it is inevitable that every piece of art one comes in contact with (that is, anything man-made) subtly shapes him or her as a person. As we discussed a bit in class, I believe anything man-made can technically be a form of media, even though much of what is man-made is not usually believed to “communicate messages”. Something as simple as a chair can subtly “speak” and form a culture though when combined with many other small aspects like this (ie: other furnishings). And cultures, as one knows, speak volumes about a region's identity.

Art is an “early warning system” of how the future is going to progress. The term “warning” seems to almost imply that the future progression is always going to be negative, however (which may not always be the case). In any case, I believe art warns others of future changes in society that will be drastic and life changing; only if one analyzes this art closely, however.

The role of the artist in the entanglement of systems, cultures and medias is not as significant as the question makes the artists' role seem. An artist is just one individual in society. The artist's job is essentially to entertain. In relation to art, that is essentially why people enjoy art. Art serves as a form of entertainment; art not only shapes individuals over time on a psychological level, but it also shapes a society over time and forms a culture. Media as a form of art ingrains sociological norms into a culture.

I agree with others who said they think the windmill photo represents big businesses generating the power in society in the same way a windmill generates power. So rather than repeated what's been said, I analyzed the image of the noses (also shown in class). I interpret the image as expressing how individuals within a society and culture should (ideally) be “clones” of each other-- in other words, each individual is recommended to conform to the norms of society and that culture in order to be in unity with the others.