Role of Art in Societies

I have always thought that changes in art happen at a time when our view is influenced by some outside element. This could be an invention such as a camera, or it could be something as pivotal as a revolution such as the French Revolution which sparked many changes in French art. I came across and interesting essay by composer Richard Wagner who examines the role of art thoroughly and discusses its degradation through time. He believes the highest conceivable form of art to be Drama, and it is from this point on that the degradation begins. As Greece is absorbed in the Roman Empire Drama gives way to philosophy. He believed that the Christians did not create art for the very joy of it but instead as an offering to their God, when instead they should offer in deeds and not objects. It is from here that Wagner notes that changes in society have caused art to sell 'her soul and body to a far worse mistress - Commerce.' Art is split into two categories here, Opera and plays. He says that plays lack ‘the idealizing influence of music’ and operas ‘forestalled the living heart and lofty purpose of actual drama’. Although I do not agree with Wagner’s view that the newer forms of art are a degraded subdivision of the “original” art of drama, his examples of how art has changed through cultural changes help understand the role of art better.