It’s all art. Movies, plays, video games, dance, paintings, poetry, etc. It’s purpose is to express with intent. To move. Affect. To create change. Usually, the desired reflection is sought for each observer. But sometimes, art can change whole cultures.
Art without intent can entertain. It can also reinforce stereotypes & simply perpetuate undesirable & flawed parts of our world that are already proliferating.
Art with selfish intent exists to manipulate. To serve the desires of its creator. & when applied effectively, it can be corrosive for on populations everywhere.
But art with generous intent is different. It might not address an issue the way you would like, & it creates tension as it helps us look at things in a different way than we might have previously. It can cause growth.
That’s precisely why we need it.
The plays of Sarah Jones, a book by Sinclair Lewis, music by Charles Wilson or a film by Amy Koppelman exist to make us think hard. To think about what we’ve taken for granted and to think about what could be different if we:
- Are aware of it.
- Are made to care enough to do something about it.
I don’t think it even matters what the artist wanted to do when they started to create the work. At a some point in that creation, the art takes on a life & purpose of it’s own. Hopefully from a heartfelt place meant to change the world for the better.
The ability to create art like that belongs to all of us.
Why not choose generous?