The role artists play in modern society is an often debated topic. On the one hand, many people see art and culture as critical components to a society’s image and sense of identity. Others, however, feel that the significance of a society’s arts is overrated in the modern world. This essay will analyze both sides of this argument.
From one perspective, many people believe strongly in the value that artists bring to a society. For example, Bob Marley was a musician whose work helped to shape the modern cultural image of Jamaica and bring attention to global problems. Performers like Marley help their countries establish recognizable cultures upon which valuable industries and worldwide recognition can grow. It is thus clear why many argue that artists still bring value to modern society.
However, many counters that performers in the modern age contribute little of value to society. Many pop music artists in Canada play a good example here. Today, popular music production in Canada follows a very prescribed path. An artist’s lyrics, image, sound and name are often decided by producers in an effort to maximize sales. The unfortunate result of this is that it causes a lot of Canadian music to sound the same. This repetitious quality to Canadian music and other modern arts of the world make it understandable why many feel artists contribute little of value to society.
Following this look, I feel that most performers still produce work that benefits society. However, regardless of their effect on society, artistic freedom should be extended to all performers.
