2nd half

There are many examples of artists that made a difference (Schama episode 9). One example is Picasso’s “Guernica,” a village during the Spanish Civil War. This is a powerful statement against war. In the 1930’s, the Nazis used propaganda films to trigger emotions leading to murder on a massive scale. Other examples are: Anslem Kieffer, showing the horrors of World War 2 through his 3D and immense canvases; Ai Weiwei who showed the tragedies of refugees in overloaded inflatable boats through his sculptures; and Kara Walker who showed the black slave experience through life size images (Schama episode 9). Films like “Grapes of Wrath” showed raw poverty and dislocation but also showed rays of hope from most people’s better nature. Today, we are worrying about drought, crop failure and political violence.
Many people use art as an escape from reality, to show things in a good way. People respond visually which means there will always be a place for art. Different disciplines, either individually or by working together can be even more effective. Film, painting, writing, animating, and sculpting can all work together to create something so immaculate that it could impact the world.
Some people think that art is just meant to make people feel good or happy and that generating these emotions is the main goal of art. Another common goal with art is simply “to match the draperies and furniture in a room.” There is nothing wrong with these goals. It is true that people will spend more time and money on art that makes them feel good and that artists that focus entirely on social justice, for example, will not sell art and starve. However, many artists that I have met work hard to express their emotions through their art forms, and not all of those emotions are just about happiness. I feel that important art will be suppressed and incomplete if artists are just making "happy" art. Therefore, there must be a balance between "feel good" art and "make you think" or “wake you up” art. This is a challenge because artists need to make a living but also express what they are thinking and feeling.
In closing, art can be a way to show beauty but also a way to show the future, or what’s ahead in life. But now artists, of all media, need to step up to show the effects of Climate Change, Black Lives Matter, and social injustice. We can use art to spread awareness about taking vaccines, wearing masks, and what could happen in the future if these measures are not taken. All this could be used to change the future if artists would come together with scientists, politicians and people from across the world to create powerful works of art to change the world. At this historic crossroad, we need to do more with art to help solve the huge problems we face. Our future and our planet depend on it.