SquareGallery.co.uk

The cry of ‘Art for Art’s sake’ has been very popular at certain stages of development of art. While it is indeed a noble desire for art to be untainted by utilitarian purposes, there is no denying that art can be very effective in serving a variety of different functional purposes within our culture and society. Art is said to have motive functionality when the artist has created the form of art with the intention of using it for a specific purpose. Here are some examples:
Communication: Art is a fantastic form of communication. Art appeals to our most basic human instincts and is easy to be understood and appreciated across cultures and societies. A large number of concepts are in fact, better understood as a form or art as opposed to language. For instance, scientific drawing can easily communicate in one frame what would need thousands of words to explain.
Entertainment: There is no denying the influence of art on entertainment. Entertainment, as we know it today, would not exist without the presence of art. Whether it is a musical performance, a dance, a theatrical performance, a painting or a book, forms of art provide us with a variety of entertainment options.
Therapist: Art has a sense of harmony, balance, symmetry and rhythm that is instinctively yearned by human beings. Art is very useful in the process of healing and the calming and soothing influence of art is known to dramatically enhance a person’s healing period, especially in the case of psychotherapy.