Serialised book (with a progressively updated >>dashboard/ToC<< page). Part II: Philosophy of the Life Instinct

Book: Philosophy of Life Instinct: Chapter 21: Art

Utility and nobility

What happens when my brain converts the sound vibrations of a Mozart sonata or Maria Callas aria into electrical signals and experiences them? Why does it generate such a nice feeling?

The enjoyment does not need anyone else to be present, not even the performer. But, besides making me happy, it does not do anything, for example, provide me with information.

Consider a musical piece by Debussy or a painting by Monet, or the one below by Constable.

It is unlikely that such a complex trait as the enjoyment of what we call Art would be an accident of the Life Instinct (see Chapter 4). So why have we evolved to experience specific combinations and sequences of sounds and images with rewards in the pleasure centres of our brain? What does it do for human life? From our journey with the Life Instinct till now in this book and observations about the creation, experience and effects of art over millennia, it could be serving multiple purposes.

Like the Sonata Form in classical music, let’s explore this as an exposition, development, recapitulation and coda.

Exposition

Art could have evolved to provide us with differential capabilities. However, humans and their precursors who gradually or accidentally developed more artistic faculties may have survived better until we all ended up with more or less the same aptitude for art.

Relatively sophisticated drawings, paintings, musical instruments and dancing are evident from about 50,000 years ago, and there are signs of art from at least 165,000 years ago. Considering modern humans evolved about 200,000 years ago, art is a feature of our earliest period and has likely added value to our lives almost throughout our existence.

Art appears to be a feature that has come about as a natural development of the drive of our Life Instinct towards better communication and invention. It has resulted in the expressiveness, creativity and imagination of art. Art is unlike the deliberate creations of humanity such as education, religion or marriage.

Here are six possible purposes of art.

1. Learning, memory and physical abilities

Art may be an efficient mechanism for retaining and using what we learn. Rather than requiring millions of neurons and complex memory states to store the patterns of good and bad situations that we observe and the rules for action we deduce, artistic pieces may be snapshots to represent them in a shorthand way. Our brain may use a lot less of its cells and energy in this way, freeing precious mass up for other capabilities.

A drawing or painting could represent information in a paraphrased manner. For example, the emotion art evokes in our mind could describe the situation, analysis and rules that make a valuable lesson for survival and well-being. Such representations could include the serious and the mundane. For example, a painting could be of heavy rains and a flood that washes away village huts or of a cock crowing at dawn, and it is time to wake up and get going. (See bibliography.)

So we have happy songs and beautiful paintings, and sad songs and pictures of death and desolation. They act as flashcards for us of what is good and bad for us and what we should do and not do.

While playing music or listening to it, we follow a melody through time and a rhythm or beat that divides time into intervals. We also hear harmonics of the frequencies of the primary sound waves. These aspects strengthen the auditory areas and improve our perception of time and ability to use it well.

There could also be a positive effect on motor functions as music makes us move our hands, feet, head and whole body rhythmically and with coordination. A particular benefit of music appears to be memory improvement, although scientists are still studying this.

Dancing improves control over our body, balance and understanding of space. It strengthens the brain’s areas that are responsible for these physical capabilities.

2. Higher Intelligence

Intelligence is our ability to analyse and adapt to changing conditions.

Art is not characteristic of less intelligent animals. It is almost exclusive to us, humans, the species with the most developed brains. The neocortex region of the brain is involved substantially in sensory perception, cognition, motor commands, spatial reasoning and communication. These happen to be intimately associated with creating and appreciating drawings, paintings, dance, song, music, etc. It is not a coincidence. Studies have observed specific neo-cortical activities during the creation and appreciation of art.

So a function of art may be to enhance the advanced parts of the brain by exercising them. These areas have probably evolved more due to other factors, but art could have played a role.

When we attempt to model the world of objects, space and events through drawing, painting, and architecture, our brain learns the features of things, relationships and changes in time. It exercises its existing networks and creates new neurons and connections.

One of the essential functions of art is likely to foster creativity and invention through representation and imagination. Across generations, we try to use our intelligence for acquiring more control over our environment. The vital creative part of intelligence is first to describe the world in mind then visualise how it could be different, either better and worse. Drawings, paintings, poetry and prose allow us to practice and refine this together.

We consider artists to be among the most intelligent members of the species. We respect and admire them because we realise consciously or unconsciously that it takes considerable powers of observation, attention, thought, practice, and imagination to create or perform art. So, naturally, we associate great intellect with admired artists such as Michelangelo, Beethoven, Picasso, or Corbusier. (See bibliography.)

Art can free, feed and widen our imagination. Pure music does this without using anything objective, as do abstract painting and sculpture. The more open-ended a piece of art, the more valuable it is. This is why impressionist and later art is more expensive than realistic art, and they are all more prized than the best photographs. (A study of various painting styles is beyond this book, but there are some starting points in the bibliography.)

3. Communication and social bonding

We are on sure ground here. Art plays a significant role in communication and social bonding.

As a primary activity, the creation of art does not require sharing. If we grew up alone on a desert island, we would probably draw something and sing to ourselves, for we have the natural ability and the urge to express ourselves artistically. But imagine the difference in delight if someone is there to see our drawing, hear our song, sing or dance with us or decorate a cave or hut together. The social aspect of art takes it to a very high level of value for humans. The difference is so significant we could almost say that art is essentially a social feature of humanity.

The formation of the social community beyond a family depends not on genetics but communication. We first communicated with spoken languages then progressed to writing. But language cannot convey every impression of the complex world on our complex brain. Nor can it express every feeling and emotion of our mind as they have thousands of variations and shades. We don’t have names or definitions for all of them as it is most likely impractical for our limited brains to have too voluminous a language.

Art steps in to convey what mere words cannot express. A sketch or painting is the artist sharing an internal feeling and worldview. It says a lot more than a photograph because it is about the interaction of the artist and humans with the world, and not just about the world. Impressionism and other forms of modern art are appreciated in this way and more valued than anatomically and naturally accurate classical art.

Art serves the artist for internal reflection and expression of an idea or emotion, and then the artist presents it to the world of people. All the onlookers see the same lines and colours or hear the same sounds. A wave spreads through our minds as we consider it together. It can be simultaneous or not, but after we individually contemplate the art, we share our feelings, and a connection of minds happens. We express delight, boredom or dislike and argue and try to convince one another. Whether we agree or disagree, the process itself is of great value to the species. It brings us closer by spending time together, understanding each other, expanding our thinking, and exercising our minds, tolerance, and empathy.

Religious art developed as a critical feature of most religions to raise our thoughts and make us better individuals and community members. There is excellent unifying power in chanting, gospel singing, religious paintings, frescos, sculptures, and the architecture of churches, mosques and temples, etc. They have been potent in aligning and exalting our minds and instilling morality and ethics1qq. (See Chapter 11, Religion.)

One of the most influential art forms is the written word when it is designed to be art. The best poetry and stories privately soothe and entertain us. However, they also possess an enormous ability to influence generations of people and change social beliefs and attitudes.

Movies and serials in theatres, television and internet streaming are recently developed art forms. They have spread rapidly and become influential experiences that make us feel like a global community, with a shared sense of issues, humour, morality and ethics.

Knowing that people near and far love the same famous singer or music group, type of music, school of painting, movie genre, or author makes us feel like we are part of a community. It gives us a sense of identity, value and belonging.

Our shared experience as live audiences of musical performances, movies, stand-up comedy, etc., unites us into a fellowship.

On a smaller scale, performing together in an orchestra, chorus, dance or play makes the individuals a team.

Art becomes a vital ingredient of culture, besides language, food, dress, religion, beliefs, and practices in all these ways. The colours, motifs, jewellery, music, songs, architecture, poetry, stories and films of a people make them a nation.

The beauty of a piece of art is measured by the number of people who get the thrill of discovering something unique and valuable in it and experience a range of enriching emotions. Beauty is in the eye of many beholders.

The more we agree on a piece of art's exquisiteness, the greater its underlying power for humanity and the higher its financial value.

4. Self-control, emotional intelligence and mental health

We are emotionally intelligent and better adjusted with ourselves and our community when we can control our primordial instincts. Art has been found very effective in calming our minds, reducing anxiety and making us feel happy.

Art is a relaxing pastime that makes us feel peaceful. It reduces the activity of the reactive parts of the brain and gives the higher brain time to improve our assumptions, decisions and actions. Thus, experiencing art has positive neurological effects throughout the brain. The other mechanism of art’s impact is the sustained focus on neutral or positive activities and diversion from negatives states such as worry, anxiety, aggression, hate, etc. (See chapter 5, Emotional Wisdom).

The creativity of making art is good for our souls. While we draw, sing, or play a musical instrument with any level of proficiency, from ordinary to excellent, the mind operates at a higher level. It takes a break from worrying about the past and future and negative feelings in the present. It gives benefits like those of meditation, tai chi and other mindfulness practices.

As life has become more complex and work and family structures have changed substantially, anxiety and depression have grown. Also, there is a rising incidence and detection of mental problems in children. It has been observed that immersion in art or systematic Art Therapy helps to reduce several mental health issues such as attention deficit, hyperactivity, anxiety, depression and behavioural problems in children and adults. (See bibliography).

5. Inspiration for a better world

Art may have also developed to be an indicator and promoter of a healthy natural ecosystem for humanity.

Sunsets and scenes of lakes look good to us. So we draw and paint them and feel happy when we see their representations in art because they are signs of everything fine for us in the world. The sun, the air through which it shines, and the water are life-giving and reassuring to behold.

Why does music sound good to us? Why is it not just noise or a dull sound? Is it because it resembles the sounds of wholesome natural processes such as singing birds, the wind through trees, rainfall, ocean waves, etc.?

Perhaps art reminds us how the world should be for our continued survival, thriving, and reproduction. The more we remind ourselves of it, the more we will make it like that.

6. Driver for our evolution

The ability to create and enjoy art needs leisure. If we are constantly working, we have no time or energy for art.

Leisure is a sign of satiation, comfort and safety. Does the Life Instinct create a driver in our mind by enticing us with the pleasure of art entice so we will strive to achieve such conditions?

In other words, is the enjoyment of art a reward for the more prosperous members of the species? Does it indirectly give us an aim, something to achieve by working harder and achieving more material success?

It is perhaps why rich and powerful people collect art, often with no deeper appreciation of it than ordinary people, as a sign of worldly success and superiority, of having arrived. If it makes the masses envy their collection and the pleasure they may be getting from it and drives them to do more for themselves, the Life Instinct achieves its purpose.

Art creates peace but needs peace too. Those fighting or fleeing for safety for long years have little place for art in their lives. Given their calming and ennobling effect, introducing music, dance, and other arts into war zones could move the warring parties towards peace (assuming they are not so savage as to reject art).

Development

Art is relative

Human art is only that — human art.

Our art is intimately tied to our senses and bodies. Its forms and benefits, perhaps even its existence, are specific to our species.

Art also depends on our particular brains. The subtle differences in humans explain why art's experience, appreciation, and creation vary by person and changes through life. But like many other things, we can learn to create, understand or appreciate art. The good thing about this is that, as long as we have this endless variety and diversity in humanity, we’ll have it in art too. Art will never go stale or finish.

For a species with a different brain, body, sense organs and evolutionary needs, art will differ from ours if it develops in them. (Only a few animals we know exhibit the capacity for music and dance. Bird and whale songs are not just mating calls that happen to sound like music to us. They have many of the wider beneficial and socialising effects on them that our music has on us. Bowerbirds, dolphins, etc., show signs of creativity (see bibliography)).

For other life forms elsewhere in the universe, if they have art, it may be similar but won’t be the same (unless they are just like us, which is highly unlikely). So it may sound or look strange to us, although we would understand and appreciate its utility and beauty for them.

Recapitulation

Art evolved to make us more fit for survival directly or work in a virtuous circle of promoting behaviour that creates wholesome human conditions that allow us to enjoy art. Artists, amateur and professional, have an impact on society and each other. Art flows through society, adding colour and improving minds wherever it goes.

It is valuable for the reasons we saw above, but particular to the human condition. With time, art changes us, and we change our art.

Understanding the evolutionary value and relative nature of art does not make it less pleasurable. On the contrary, we should encourage and increase the creation and enjoyment of art in school and throughout life, whether amateur or professional. We don’t all have to be Kurosawa, Tagore, Satyajit Ray or Thyagaraja. But we all need art in our lives.

Coda

Art is not optional or a luxury for humanity. Instead, it is one of the best parts of what we are. Maintaining its vitality maintains ours. Like sports and games, all we need to do is enjoy it, and it gives us returns in spades.

Let’s make art, not war.

© 2020 Shashidhar Sastry. All rights reserved.

(As each chapter of the book is published, its link is updated in the ToC below.)

Table of Contents

Part I Metaphysics of The Life Instinct

Part II Philosophy of The Life Instinct

Part III The Life Instinct and The Future

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