Art versus Life
The Question: Does art imitate life or is it life that imitates art?
There’s actually a lot of different ways to look and approach this question. Also, several factors come into play such as: How much appreciation on art do we have in our lives? How much role does art play in our lives? How much do we involve ourselves with art? What is our view on art? How do we view our lives? Is art important to us? Do we give importance to our life? I’m sure there’s a lot more factors or questions, where our answers may lead us to knowing which way it really is. I think it’s very interesting how questions can somehow just lead us to understanding the matter then eventually to the answer… or at the opinion or theory that we choose to accept. From a personal perspective I think it’s both. I think both correlates to each other in similar yet diverse ways. Certain instances in our lives may mirror art and some work of art would hit home because of how it reflects parts of our lives.
Back in college, I took a Sociology class, which I really enjoyed. Our professor was not only very attractive but she was really smart and witty as well, she was a former Revlon Model and Flight Attendant of American Airlines, and a self confessed trophy wife; but aside from this she has a Master’s Degree to back up her very impressive credentials. She is also very approachable and was very articulate, thus, making the class something to look forward to. Her approach was to have a brief lecture on a specific subject matter then from there have a class discussion. She encouraged everyone in the class to speak their mind and would post questions that would trigger our thoughts. One of my favorite topics that we discussed was the topic on co-relation. We had a text book where it explained how our behavior is affected by this concept. The text book thoroughly explained this through citing statistical, methodological, experimental, and case studies. But the gist of this concept (at least based on my understanding) is that with a lot of things around us, we always find a correlation to us, our lives or our surroundings. With this in mind, we automatically link either instances, events, people, maybe even practically anything then directly apply it to us in which ever aspect in may closely or remotely relate to. Some people may view it as coincidence, some may view it as fate, but either way this concept works in such a way that it makes us think that things that are happening around us, really do have something to do with us on a personal level.
Some people in our class didn’t really accept this concept without raising their points of arguments. And since we had an awesome professor, she knew it was coming… and she was prepared for it. On the second day of discussion, we had a class activity to prove the point of this concept. Our profession randomly called on people in our class and she asked for our zodiac signs and after giving her this information, she read out the person’s horoscope from the fashion magazine that she brought with her in classAfter reading the horoscope, she asked the students individually if the horoscope for the day/week made any sense at all or if it was somehow accurate. Majority of the students described how the horoscope was very much related to their current situation and how they felt that it was tailor fit to them. The sited instances as to why they think it applies to them. The ones who did not agree with the horoscope were the people who did not believe in it at all and rejected the idea of having horoscopes read to them. After the activity, we had a class discussion going back to the concept of correlation. As more and more people argued about this concept, our professor found the perfect timing and revealed that the horoscope that was read out for each person was actually chosen by random… and none of which was the actual horoscope based on their zodiac sign….
The idea of the activity was for us to think that by giving our zodiac sign, she will read the horoscope for that particular sign. And after reading it, the students would be prompted to think of instances in their own lives reflecting what she had read out. Of course, as I have mentioned, our professor was very smart…and once again she has just proven her point! Since the students agreed with the pseudo horoscope and had very strong arguments as to how it relates to them, it was crystal clear that the concept of correlation indeed exists. Most of us were shocked as to how it applies to us. And it was evident that some students were very eager to even retract what they had said during the activity to prove their argument… but then unfortunately, our professor out smarted them and it was evident that arguing about it will already lead to self inflicted humiliation.
Fast forward 6 years later, several situations in my life occurred which lead me to wonder and really ponder about the correlation of art and life. I was so fond of watching a TV series, The L Word, and one of the showed such high regard on the role of art in one’s life. I’m sure most of us, if not all, at one point or another have gotten ourselves in situations where we find comfort in listening to songs, watching movies or reading a book to divert our attention and entertain ourselves… only to find out that we are tortured even more because of the resemblance we see in this form of art to our own lives.
A lot of times, this happens to me with songs. There are some songs that I listen to that really hits home. Sometimes, the lyrics of the songs become too familiar that it almost gives me a string of images of certain situations of my life that it seems as if they are reflections. I get a feeling as if the song was made especially made for me and that I am hearing the exact words that I need or want to hear. I get a feeling as though the singer was meant to play the role of being the narrator of my life…. the catalyst between my life and art.
If find this fascinating and at the same time repulsive. Fascinating, in a way that it is very interesting to see your life being seen through someone else’s eyes. Repulsing, because it is almost allowing someone unfamiliar penetrate your inner most thoughts and feelings. With these songs, it feels as if you are allowing someone to tell the world exactly how we feel and expose our vulnerability knowing that it breaks down all our walls and defenses as it masquerade as art.
On the other hand, it could be the reverse. Some people can live the life hiding behind the shadows of art. It can be very easy and comforting to always have something to justify any actions or decisions we make. How many songs, movies, or stories have we heard of that we base our life based on our desired conclusion. Some forms of art become too familiar to us that it becomes our source of comfort and hiding place. Some people believe in the power of art too much that they forget the power and importance of choosing and living the life we want to live. In one way or another, everything in this world interconnected and linked to one another. We may not be able to see it and figure it out within our lifetime, but each and everyone’s individual experience is of value to another. We can never claim and assume that someone else’s life is an exact replica of someone else’s. People have tried and some will continue to live their life as if it is living the art they find most comfort with, but with this the question is… who’s life are they living… or maybe the better question is: Are they living their life? I believe that life is what we make out of it. There are forces of nature, there are remote and uncontrolled circumstances. There is fate. There is destiny. But in our lifetime, there are countless decisions and choices made. And with these, we form the mold where we make our own lives fit.
The Answer: I think its both. Art can serve as a mirror of one’s life, the same way that one can live their life such that it becomes one's individual work of art.
The Question: Does art imitate life or is it life that imitates art?
There’s actually a lot of different ways to look and approach this question. Also, several factors come into play such as: How much appreciation on art do we have in our lives? How much role does art play in our lives? How much do we involve ourselves with art? What is our view on art? How do we view our lives? Is art important to us? Do we give importance to our life? I’m sure there’s a lot more factors or questions, where our answers may lead us to knowing which way it really is. I think it’s very interesting how questions can somehow just lead us to understanding the matter then eventually to the answer… or at the opinion or theory that we choose to accept. From a personal perspective I think it’s both. I think both correlates to each other in similar yet diverse ways. Certain instances in our lives may mirror art and some work of art would hit home because of how it reflects parts of our lives.
Back in college, I took a Sociology class, which I really enjoyed. Our professor was not only very attractive but she was really smart and witty as well, she was a former Revlon Model and Flight Attendant of American Airlines, and a self confessed trophy wife; but aside from this she has a Master’s Degree to back up her very impressive credentials. She is also very approachable and was very articulate, thus, making the class something to look forward to. Her approach was to have a brief lecture on a specific subject matter then from there have a class discussion. She encouraged everyone in the class to speak their mind and would post questions that would trigger our thoughts. One of my favorite topics that we discussed was the topic on co-relation. We had a text book where it explained how our behavior is affected by this concept. The text book thoroughly explained this through citing statistical, methodological, experimental, and case studies. But the gist of this concept (at least based on my understanding) is that with a lot of things around us, we always find a correlation to us, our lives or our surroundings. With this in mind, we automatically link either instances, events, people, maybe even practically anything then directly apply it to us in which ever aspect in may closely or remotely relate to. Some people may view it as coincidence, some may view it as fate, but either way this concept works in such a way that it makes us think that things that are happening around us, really do have something to do with us on a personal level.
Some people in our class didn’t really accept this concept without raising their points of arguments. And since we had an awesome professor, she knew it was coming… and she was prepared for it. On the second day of discussion, we had a class activity to prove the point of this concept. Our profession randomly called on people in our class and she asked for our zodiac signs and after giving her this information, she read out the person’s horoscope from the fashion magazine that she brought with her in class
The idea of the activity was for us to think that by giving our zodiac sign, she will read the horoscope for that particular sign. And after reading it, the students would be prompted to think of instances in their own lives reflecting what she had read out. Of course, as I have mentioned, our professor was very smart…and once again she has just proven her point! Since the students agreed with the pseudo horoscope and had very strong arguments as to how it relates to them, it was crystal clear that the concept of correlation indeed exists. Most of us were shocked as to how it applies to us. And it was evident that some students were very eager to even retract what they had said during the activity to prove their argument… but then unfortunately, our professor out smarted them and it was evident that arguing about it will already lead to self inflicted humiliation.
Fast forward 6 years later, several situations in my life occurred which lead me to wonder and really ponder about the correlation of art and life. I was so fond of watching a TV series, The L Word, and one of the showed such high regard on the role of art in one’s life. I’m sure most of us, if not all, at one point or another have gotten ourselves in situations where we find comfort in listening to songs, watching movies or reading a book to divert our attention and entertain ourselves… only to find out that we are tortured even more because of the resemblance we see in this form of art to our own lives.
A lot of times, this happens to me with songs. There are some songs that I listen to that really hits home. Sometimes, the lyrics of the songs become too familiar that it almost gives me a string of images of certain situations of my life that it seems as if they are reflections. I get a feeling as if the song was made especially made for me and that I am hearing the exact words that I need or want to hear. I get a feeling as though the singer was meant to play the role of being the narrator of my life…. the catalyst between my life and art.
If find this fascinating and at the same time repulsive. Fascinating, in a way that it is very interesting to see your life being seen through someone else’s eyes. Repulsing, because it is almost allowing someone unfamiliar penetrate your inner most thoughts and feelings. With these songs, it feels as if you are allowing someone to tell the world exactly how we feel and expose our vulnerability knowing that it breaks down all our walls and defenses as it masquerade as art.
On the other hand, it could be the reverse. Some people can live the life hiding behind the shadows of art. It can be very easy and comforting to always have something to justify any actions or decisions we make. How many songs, movies, or stories have we heard of that we base our life based on our desired conclusion. Some forms of art become too familiar to us that it becomes our source of comfort and hiding place. Some people believe in the power of art too much that they forget the power and importance of choosing and living the life we want to live. In one way or another, everything in this world interconnected and linked to one another. We may not be able to see it and figure it out within our lifetime, but each and everyone’s individual experience is of value to another. We can never claim and assume that someone else’s life is an exact replica of someone else’s. People have tried and some will continue to live their life as if it is living the art they find most comfort with, but with this the question is… who’s life are they living… or maybe the better question is: Are they living their life? I believe that life is what we make out of it. There are forces of nature, there are remote and uncontrolled circumstances. There is fate. There is destiny. But in our lifetime, there are countless decisions and choices made. And with these, we form the mold where we make our own lives fit.
The Answer: I think its both. Art can serve as a mirror of one’s life, the same way that one can live their life such that it becomes one's individual work of art.
Cheers!!
~joyous =0)
