Is Art a Waste of Time?

For something to be a work of art, it should ideally serve no utility. That is to say, we don’t consume art for a purpose outside of experiencing it. We don’t listen to songs to get something extrinsic to the experience, nor look at a painting or read a book to accomplish some sort of task. This can make art feel like a waste of time in the moment, and yet we all consume various forms of art on a daily basis. Music, movies, literature, paintings, and architecture surround us and leave their impression on us. Most modern people have it all wrong.

Art speaks to us and, if done correctly, gives us a glimpse into something we didn’t previously know about ourselves or the world. When we create art, we are giving the world a small piece of ourselves. Made in a moment of time that consists of our feelings and experiences that can never be replicated. Art is a snapshot of a special moment in time of something we wish to show the world.

There is a common trope that a piece of art is more valuable after the artist is dead. Why is this the case? I do notice just in my own life, the pictures I take on a daily basis are somewhat of a novelty and unimportant in the short term future. However, these same types of pictures I took years ago seem to take me back to a time in my life I had almost forgotten if it weren’t for the picture to remind me. Good art ages like wine.

Society would have you believe the only pursuit worth your while is to build or create something that earns money. Creating, for the sake of creation, is often frowned upon and viewed as a waste of time. We don’t encourage people to pursue art, “How will you make any money?”, is a common answer and it’s true. Art is incredibly hard to monetize and you will no doubt find it hard to pay for something as basic as food and housing. This doesn’t mean art is without worth.

It keeps us healthy in a sick world. Art gives us something to ponder on, reminds of us loved ones, connects us to each other and the world. It is no small thing to be moved by a piece of writing, frozen by a painting, brought to tears by a scene in a movie, or goosebumps while listening to a song. These are moments in our lives we don’t forget and break the monotony of daily routine. No other living thing appreciates and attempts to create art. Art is a uniquely human endeavor and as such, must speak to something intrinsically unique about what it means to be human.

Art saves us.