Role of an Artist

            What is an artist’s role in society?  To draw pictures, sculpt, animate, or advertise?  To inspire, persuade, or share emotion?  Can any one of these words describe the role of an artist, or is it up to the artist to decide what role they have in society.  In the novel “An Artist of the Floating World,” by Kazuo Ishiguro, the main character Masuji Ono is an artist that changes his role as an artist.

            Ono began as an artist that made passionate paintings that expressed emotions, but later made propaganda that was geared more towards persuading or encouraging people to act.  Ono’s earlier work was respected and beautiful, but when he made propaganda his art was appreciated by some but in the future was just thought to be tasteless propaganda.  Although there can be great art in propaganda, propaganda doesn’t have the same type of appreciation as something like the Mona Lisa.  In one the artist is trying to capture something beautiful into something that can be shared, while the other seems to have a simpler objective to spread an idea and motivate individuals to do something.  People have a subconscious thought that propaganda is less creative or artistic than what is considered true art.

Here is a link to a youtube video of propaganda animation by Walt Disney.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VRop0x2pm0o

            What determines whether a piece of art is good or not?  Is it the opinion of the individuals exposed to the art, or is it whether or not the art creates a strong feeling in the person that sees it?  Possibly if the art affects peoples lives in a good or bad way.  I feel that what is bad for some people can be good for others, or even be good at first but later become bad.  I feel good/bad art is simply a matter of opinion.  Some people feel that propaganda is good because it helps encourage people to take action, while others can see it as misleading, deceitful, or over exaggerating the truth.  I feel all types of art can be good, beautiful, or powerful whether they are simple decorations, propaganda, or an advertisement. 

          I feel an artist’s role can be whatever they want it to be.   I think an artist can control the resulting feeling or emotion of their art that they expose to the world.  I also think that artists need to be aware of the possibility of widespread publicity their art can have, and determine whether the affect their art has on society will be the way they want it to be.  Good or bad.