On the arts’ merits
In today’s world of advanced science and technology, we still greatly value our artists such as musicians, painters and writers. What can arts tell us about life that science and technology cannot?
Artists such as musicians, painters and writers are still highly regarded in today’s society - one that may be deemed too technologically inclined. While there is little science cannot accomplish, I believe the arts are still bringing unparalleled historical and religious values, as well as enriching one’s inner landscape.
The arts have been an inseparable element of history and religion. History has been documented through paintings, sculptures and songs. These are the means to record events, to praise heroes and to convey religious messages to the contemporary public and successive generations. To illustrate, God was portrayed, worshiped and glorified in thousands of religious paintings and drawings produced by the Renaissance painters such as Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, Raphael and many others. Historical paintings, such as ‘May the Third’ (by artist Goya), are there to capture the horror and the tragedy of wars. This documentation of history, argued by some, is also feasible with the help of various recording technologies. However, I believe what separates the arts is that they allow artists to incorporate their personal feelings and interpretations, which adds a unique touch of humanity.
That the arts nurture one’s creativity and empathy is the next merit. Art, music and literature are realms where practitioners are encouraged to be imaginative, free, even liberal. As a result, exposure to such disciplines allows people to be more creative and expressive. It is known that children who get to interact with the arts at a young age tend to perform better when it comes to creative-thinking tasks. In addition, the arts possess the ability to heighten one’s emotions, something science can hardly compete with. Reading a book, or even listening to a song could bring tears to some eyes once it resonates with the reader or the listener’s sentiments. This ability to move the audience explains the high status that some talented painters, musicians and writers still enjoy these days.
In conclusion, while science remains important, none can deny the role of songs, paintings and literature as they hold undisputed significance in the documentation of history and character formation.
___
VOCABULARY EXPLAINED
highly regarded (a) - được xem trọng, đánh giá cao
technologically inclined (a) - dựa vào / hướng về công nghệ
unparalleled historical and religious values (n) - giá trị khó so bì về mặt lịch sử và tôn giáo
enrich one’s inner landscape (v) - làm giàu nội tâm của ai đó
an inseparable element (n) - yếu tố không thể thiếu
the contemporary public (n) - cộng đồng đương thời
successive generations (n) - thế hệ tiếp nối
capture the horror and the tragedy of wars (v) - bắt được sự kinh hoàng và bi kịch của chiến tranh
feasible (a) - “mần” được, khả thi
incorporate their personal feelings and interpretations (v) - lồng vào (trong tác phẩm) cảm xúc và suy nghĩ của cá nhân
a unique touch of humanity (n) - một nét nhân văn độc đáo, riêng biệt, “có 1 hong 2”
realm (n) - phạm trù
art practitioner (n) - người thực hành nghệ thuật, nghệ nhân
liberal (a) - phóng khoáng, cởi mở (về mặt tư tưởng)
exposure to such disciplines (n) - sự tiếp xúc với những lĩnh vực này
heighten one’s emotions (v) - đẩy cao cảm xúc
resonate with the reader or the listener’s sentiments (v) - đồng điệu, chạm vào được cảm xúc của người đọc/nghe
hold undisputed significance (v) - nắm giữ vai trò không thể chối cãi
documentation of history (n) - sự ghi chép lịch sử
character formation (n) - hình thành tính cách
