Is Art the Secret to Development?
Not too long ago I was interviewing the Zambian artist William Miko for a piece I was writing. He told how he believed art to be the key to the development of a country. He sited Japan's long history of creativity and compared it with their technological achievements.
What do you think? Does art contribute to development in terms of ideas, cultural reactions, how we see the world etc.?
Tags: art, culture, development
Replies to This Post
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Permalink Reply by John Rouse on -
Really an interesting post Liz. I'm going to frame my thoughts on the topic by talking about economic development. On the micro level it seems clear that creative types can spark a resurgence in home prices in a downtrodden neighborhoods in the U.S. There's something called a creativity index that is well known in economic circles that measures how many people in an area work in "creative" fields. It was developed by Richard Florida and is pretty convincing in making the case for correlating "creativity" with sustained economic growth. In New York, where I live, you can point to any of a number of neighborhoods (Hells Kitchen, Fort Greene, Williamsburg, Bushwick, Jackson Heights) and make the case that their "resurgence" is due to artists moving into affordable housing and creating. However, this resurgence often evolves into gentrification with lower income residents moving to other neighborhoods, while being replaced by new residents with more disposable income moving into the neighborhood....That's not really development in my mind. More like a economic displacement. I'm not judging really. Just observing.
But, that's economic development on the micro level in the U.S. Let's talk about economic development on the macro level in another country. I'm generalizing here, but I really believe the arts can play a strong role in development. One of the areas in which it can be influential is tourism. If the country is considered safe to travel to and it is able to successfully market its cultural heritage there are great opportunities to promote tourism in these areas. The arts can show the world what is beautiful and what is valued and revered in a country.
The arts I believe also provide a great opportunity to develop leadership. Many countries are flush with development money from abroad or natural resources money (e.g. oil) from corporations. This money often ends up leading to corrupt officials and institutions. Artists (especially playwrights and musicians) have the opportunity to showcase their creativity while telling stories and remaining separate and distinct from this corruption. For this reason, the arts in mind, provide a relatively untapped resource for creative leadership.
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Permalink Reply by LizW on -
This is interesting, you seem to be looking at the more material or economic side of development, but there is the development of the self or the intellect that needs also to be considered. Living in Zambia I am beginning to see how important the development of ideas, opinion and questioning the norm are what make a country seek change (whether this change is good or bad could be argued infinitely). With regards to gender relations, good governance and democracy, I see how different Zambia is to my home country the UK, not because they have the 'wrong' opinion but because they seem to avoid challenging the status quo.
Art, I feel is the key to questioning our norms and looking through them whether through protest, statement or reflection. It is often the discourse that comes from art that is as revealing as the art itself.
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Permalink Reply by John Rouse on
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Good point. Especially about questioning the norm. I think that's what I was getting at when I briefly wrote about artists as leaders. The artist that immediately comes to my mind is Vaclav Havel the Czech playwright and first president of the Czech Republic. His play Charter 77 assisted in bringing an end to Communism in his country.
So who are the artists in Zambia and other African countries that are using their art to question the norm?
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Permalink Reply by Cindy Wang on -
I think there are artists all over the world that reflect directly or indirectly the situation of its country.
I love the work of a Thai artists: Nippan
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Permalink Reply by neha singh on -
Yes, definitely, art is surely a barometer of the progress our society makes. It is also a sign of prosperity and culture as artists reflect all the good, bag and ugly plaguing society.
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Permalink Reply by Cindy Wang on
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I agree with you. And I think if Indian and Chinese artists are so important on the international scene, is the development and progress of these 2 countries, but also the important cultural heritage plays a major role
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Permalink Reply by Cindy Wang on
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In fact, in Greater China, everybody in talking about creative art industry!
I see art as Living art, as is everywhere. How to make life beautiful, the way of life is art too.
For artists, by creating art, it is an Inner development. Art of a country is the spirit of this country, a reflection of the society, its thinking, its economic, political situation, the well-being of its population.
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Permalink Reply by cheryl gravitt on -
Yes, I think it does. The world would be so boring without Art, Music, and Writing. All things creative show a persons inner thoughts and feelings.
I love to write also, well, visual Art, such as drawing, painting, sculpting, music, is like writing with pictures, and sounds, and with your hands, ( as far as sculpture, basketmaking, the list goes on, you know?)
Anything that a person creates from thin air, uses their hands, and their minds, and their hearts, broadens their mind, and keeps them alive.
I remember hearing that Music makes you smarter, I believe it. My son who is grown now, was in band during his middle school years, up to that point, his grades were okay, but when he started playing the trombone, those mediocre grades turned into straight A's, so yes, it works.
Japan is a phoenix, who has risen from the ashes, they have taken something(electronics,) that could have destroyed them, and turned it into an economy that can not be stopped, that is because their educational system is first class, their culture is fascinating, and they understand what parts of life are most important in the scheme of things.
I think creative types are the engine for all the world, because until they get things started, nothing gets invented, or sees the light of day as far as getting it out to the world. Creative types get up each day and there is never enough time to do all they want to. They are the glue that holds the world together, without them, nothing moves.
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Permalink Reply by cheryl gravitt on
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I was going to edit, but got nothing else to say, not replying to my own comment, LOL, just getting this box thingy to disappear, LOL!
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Permalink Reply by cheryl gravitt on
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The economy and job base in America now, ( and all over the World, for that matter,) is a good example of change.
It's funny, but here in the U.S., seems the driving force now is education. Oh, there are jobs out there, but those jobs call for Education and retraining.
It's like that saying: Move, or get out of the way of those who are. It's going to take a major shift in our thinking before we can come out of this slump of nothingness.
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Permalink Reply by LizW on
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Good point, remember that thanks to Roosevelt, the Depression became a fertile period for the arts through his New Deal for the Arts. I believe Arthur Miller was a recipient of support.
Would be nice to see something similar this time around!
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Permalink Reply by Mark Langan on -
Wow...one of the best questions yet for discussion. Art I believe most certainly is the secret to development. It is a reflection of our lives and culture. A time capsule one might say whereas we can see what specifically was being expressed any particular time or location thru the likes of music, visual, etc. expressed by people from all walks of life. This question goes deep!
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