In Bob Ross’ fascinating career of painting scenes from nature, the famous artist once announced, “We don’t make mistakes, just happy little accidents.” Art has evolved along with humans, and the concepts have reminded us many times of our past. Art doesn’t just teach us of our past, it also enriches our future. As Bob Ross found with painting little happy trees, art can teach humankind valuable lessons which we remember. Arts education is just as important as any other type of education because it teaches people life skills and augments exposure to world cultures.
Like any other subject, art builds up a student’s life skills. If students are only limited to the core subjects, many won’t find their true passions until later in life. According to the Washington Post, “Colleges and universities across the country must help our students meet that expectation. For the sake of our students and the future of our country, we must reinvent ourselves to help students explore meaning and purpose.” Colleges shape teenagers into young adults, fit to handle the growing needs of our society. I students don’t even know what they want to become, they won’t know what to study. Arts education in elementary and middle schools opens new pathways for kids to explore. Some students may even become the world’s next Picasso if art education can be successfully implemented in elementary and junior high schools. Art also helps people to develop patience and perseverance. A DW German news article pointed out that, “Peter Freiherr von Braun commissioned Beethoven's ‘Fidelio.’ At its opening performance in 1805, critics panned his opera. Beethoven successfully reworked it, producing a third and fourth version of the score.” Fidelio was Beethoven’s only opera, and the first version was a failure. The final version of the opera took almost a decade to write. If Beethoven had given up and heaved the score into the trash, the world would have never known the wonders of Beethoven’s third and fourth versions of Fidelio. Ludwig van Beethoven couldn’t have written Fidelio without patience and perseverance – indeed, he couldn’t have written any of his master works. Young people will learn how to accept failure and begin again, as Beethoven and Picasso did. Patience and perseverance are two life skills essential to success in an increasingly competitive world. Critical thinking, however, ties all school subjects together. Math and science may seem as if they are distant from art, but they are intricately connected. Math requires problem solving skills, but so too does art. “Artistic creations are born through the solving of problems. How do I turn this clay into a sculpture? How do I portray a particular emotion through dance? How will my character react in this situation? Without even realizing it kids who participate in the arts are consistently being challenged to solve problems. All this practice in problem solving develops children’s skills in reasoning and understanding of complex problems – skills necessary for success in any career.” As math problems become more complex, students may be asked to draw diagrams to visualize the problems. Similarly, complicated paintings often require pin-point measurements using geometrical tools. Even in scientific careers, the need for basic art is undeniable. Art can provide a person with an easier way to solve a problem, and at least help with better visualization.
Not only does art enhance life skills, it also broadens the views of world cultures. Mankind does not live alone on the planet; it is critical that we understand cultural differences and similarities so that we achieve greater harmony among our fellow human beings. Take Beijing opera as an example. “It has a long history and is thought of as a cultural treasure of China,” (Transparent Language 2). Beijing Opera differs significantly from classical European acting. One might think of western opera to have a grandiose approach, the singers’ voices soaring to unimaginable heights. Beijing Opera couldn’t be more different. Performers leap and twist, practicing martial arts and acrobatics while acting and singing. Intense acrobatics on stage are unconventional in European theater. Art helps humanity to appreciate the differences between different cultures. Art not only differentiates; it also connects different cultures. When we think of European art, we usually think of the Renaissance and Italy. However, “The invention and use of the printing press in Europe was important for the Renaissance because it allowed new ideas and worldviews to spread across the continent more easily” (History Crunch, 10). The Renaissance in art and literature didn’t just stay in Italy; it spread to nearby Spain, Germany, France, and Poland-Lithuania. Da Vinci’s painting style would have been entirely different if not for the Renaissance. This important event undoubtedly shaped world history, and made for the similarities of European art as a whole. Art has helped humanity make connections through the similarities of world cultures.
In conclusion, art education is important because it helps us build life skills and realize true passions; it also helps us understand and tolerate our world better.
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