In order for human being's to experience pure emotion, we must be in tune with our emotional right brain. In this left brain dominated society, it is easier said than done. When a person experiences art, he or she often initially analyzes what is seen and what emotions it evokes, rather than just accepting the very first emotion felt. This can interfere with our global "language", or at least the authenticity of it. If humans have learned to control (or rather to over control) their emotions, it interferes with the authenticity of the language understood by all. For example, texting interferes with emotions. The words can be seen but the intent is unknown. Our modern analytical brains are acting as computers and interfering with the natural, right brain emotions.
The most spiritual thing that can be felt is a raw emotion. It connects us to something greater. It brings us back to the natural, human way of things. Part of what makes us human is our impeccable capability to feel intense emotion. Rather than being angry, happy, or sad, we can feel enraged, elated, or depressed. These strong emotions are felt by every human being, no matter what culture they are from. When a person takes a paintbrush or instrument and just lets the emotions flow out through color and sounds, it is an extremely untainted emotional experience. It is spiritual when a beautifully held note brings tears to your eyes, or an abstract explosion of color takes away all words from your mouth. This experience is the global language. That same note and painting can evoke the same emotions from a person in Africa or China or America. All it takes is raw emotion being expressed in a creative way.
My music was playing as I began to read this, but one sentence in, I paused it because I was captivated immediately. You make so many solid points that are all well written. The ending was my favorite part, "It is spiritual when a beautifully held note brings tears to your eyes, or an abstract explosion of color takes away all the words from your mouth." That description in itself so vividly describes the global language we all speak of art. It does make me wonder though, is art the answer to the world's problems? It has no letters or taboos or rules, so maybe art is what we have been looking for to help us get our point across all this time. I believe in humanity, in the fact that one day the world will be able to successfully communicate with one another without war or financial ruin. And maybe, as you said, the most basic human creativity will be the beginning of that transformation.
ReplyDeleteI can completely agree with you on the idea that our left brains are interfering with our right brains. Creativity is shut out by our constant need to analyze and understand all things in a logical way. The reason the arts live on is simply because we try and defy this part of our nature. “It is spiritual when a beautifully held note brings tears to your eyes, or an abstract explosion of color takes away all words from your mouth.” This is a beautiful way to explain what it is like when we go against our left brain’s thoughts. It shows that we are too over-come with the emotion of the artist to think about the piece logically. In other words, the art has gotten it’s point across, just as this line has. The spirituality in art is something that could free us from ourselves, in out overly analytical thoughts. Art as a means of transformation might just be the way to a better tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this, part of me certainly agrees with you. It believes that your definition of the human, that we must be able to experience and express raw emotion, is central to the human. I am also moved by the gentle sway of a musical beat or the plot of a story, and small feelings of bliss and connection to humanity occur. Art, which allows the artist to express his/her emotion through physical means, is quite spiritual in nature. I do not agree that all left-brain thinking breaks the connection between the art and the person who views it. Sure, an overly-critical attitude will completely block the true meaning of the art, but when added in small doses, a left-brain attitude can add much to the art. To analyze the time period in which the artist lived, to think about the the societal pressures and the tug-and-pull of everyday life may contribute much to the emotion of the art. To understand what may have been happening and why the artist felt the way he/she did by using the left-brain, a greater emotional connection may be achieved with the right brain.
ReplyDeleteRaw emotion sound like a dangerous thing. I know you said that it is used to create art, but can't it also be what starts fights or destroys people in general? I like the way you looked at it. Art is made from raw emotion, but I feel like some of that emotion is gone today in some art. Some people don't use emotion as much as they use what they think people will like. I feel like the thirst for money has overcome some people and that leaves their art empty.
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