Blog #3

Rhys Southan’s essay “Is Art a Waste of Time” contents interesting points of view of both the author and those he spent time with while finishing his screen play. Southern spent time observing members of the Effective Altruism Movement. As an artist Southan’s love for art did not line up with the EA’s values. The Effective Altruism Movement members value money, egalitarianism, making a difference, and replaceability. Egalitarianism is the believe that all people should be equal. EAs dedicate their lives to making a difference through ending world suffering to achieve equality for all. Money at first seems like a weird value for a group such as the EA movement. However, members believe in order for help given to be “good enough” it must be more than what someone else in an individual’s position would do. They believe that donating a large amount of money is more important than hands on involvement. EAs state that if ones contribution is not detrimental enough, they are replaceable. Therefore, EAs argue that artists and art are not making any worth while contributions to end world suffering and therefore are pointless. Southern, an artist himself, decided be wanted to see what exactly this movement was all about. Throughout the essay Southern expresses how the ideals the EA hold made him question if his work is making a difference, however ultimate ends the essay saying he is not going to give up art or screen play writing.

After reading Southan’s essay I watched a TED Talk by Titus Kaphar, an artist. The TED Talk begins with Kaphar telling a story about taking his children to an art museum, where his oldest son points out the statue infront of the building stating how unfair it is that one man gets to ride a horse while the other two must walk. Kaphar was taken back and was not quite sure how to explain the statue to his young son. He then back tracks to an experience he had in college in his art history class. Kaphar had been waiting for the chapter featuring black painters and artists, but when the day had finally come the professor informed him they would be skipping the chapter because it was not that important. To Kaphar, an African American man, this chapter was personal and extremely important. Kaphar then jumps back to present day where he states that paintings are a visual language and that by shifting one’s gaze on an image other important messages can be seen. Kaphar connects all his points and stories by saying that through art todays generation can amend historical statues, like the one his son points out through putting new modern art focused on equality next to it. He ends his TED Talk by saying as a generation we can not erase history because it is important to learn from it, but to amend history in a positive way through art.

The points stated in Southan’s essay and Titus Kaphar’s TED Talk are quite different. As an individual I personally feel art is important and most definitely makes a difference and no matter how big or small the difference is, the difference made is important. Therefore with this point of view I connect with Kaphar’s statements about the impact art can have. My ideals towards the impact of art were strengthened as I brain stormed connections between the two pieces. Although I am still not quite sure how I am going to approach my paper, I do know one very important point I will write about is the EAs value of replaceability versus Kaphar’s value of amending. I agree with Kaphar because amending is how future generations learn from others mistakes, replacement is trying to get rid of history, but history is important, history is knowledge.