CHAOS IN ART

Drew Tostenson, sports editor

Art and chaos have a deep connection and often go hand-in-hand. Art, in all its forms, is a vessel of self-expression, so it comes as no surprise that from some of the most dark and chaotic times have come some of the most beautiful and meaningful works of art. In times of chaos, art reminds us of our shared humanity. In these times, art is created and consumed at a greater volume. As AP Art History students understand, oftentimes the best way to understand a society and the feelings of its individuals is through the art they produce. There is no better example than the French Revolution when it comes to chaos being the topic of art. From sculptures to paintings to architecture, artists turned to many art forms to express and represent the events they experienced and the feelings they had about them. “The Death of Marat,” a shocking painting by Jacques-Louis David, is an excellent example of this. The painting depicts the murder of Jean-Paul Marat, a political figure and revolutionary leader working to overthrow the French monarch and government. Some believe it is the first modernist work of art because it portrays political content that has not been transmuted. David was also a revolutionary leader alongside Marat, which is clear by the way he painted Marat in the style of a Christian martyr, with Marat being shined on by a glowing light. Of course, Marat is not a religious figure but a political “saint” of the revolution to David. “The Death of Marat” eternalizes Marat’s murder and the French Revolution as a whole and is an excellent example of artists creating works during times of hardship. Art reminds us of our shared humanity, an important effort during times of chaos. According to the University of Pennsylvania: Social Impact of the Arts Project, art is said to improve “community wellbeing by building social connections within groups and across social divides.” During times of war, famine and social divides, people empathize with artists by seeing the emotion and feelings in their works. A sense of community and unity is also achieved as people can experience art together. “The Death of Marat” was able to humanize two revolutionary leaders and people on both sides of the conflict were able to come together over the violence and tragedy of the murder. The September 11th Memorial & Museum in Manhattan, New York is another work of art that establishes unity. The memorial was chosen through the winner of a public design contest, and Michael Arad and Peter Walker’s “Reflecting Absence” was chosen. The memorial uses art to create solidarity as a result of a tragic event. The site consists of two large waterfall pools which sit in the footprints of the North and South towers. Names of those killed in the attacks are inscribed on the edges of the pools. It is a perfect example of art creating a silver lining out of a chaotic time. Art can be an effective coping mechanism for those who are struggling. Studies by the National Center for Biotechnology Information have shown that the use of visual and performing arts at hospitals decreased the length of average hospital stays, and there are “many potential benefits of art in enhancing health and wellness.” The use of art to cope with chaos goes back centuries. Ancient societies often buried the dead in decorative burial mounds, and many famous sites like Stonehenge are burial sites. Today, almost every site of tragedy has some sort of artistic memorial that allows visitors to sympathize with the victims of these tragedies. Art can be more than just a response to chaos, it can be the cause of it. Many political figures patronized works of art that bent the truth or glorified violent acts to change public perception. Later in history, governing bodies utilized propaganda to instill chaos. Both sides in World War II were known to airdrop leaflets on enemy cities in an attempt to lower public morale. Many of these leaflets featured images of the industrial and military might of a nation. Propaganda took over film, television, music, literature and art during the Cold War. Effects of this can still be seen today as propaganda continues to be used to sway people’s polotiical opinons. Chaos and art have a deep connection. People create art in times of hardship, people consume art in those times and art can have many positive effects in these hard times. From therapy to unity, art offers a way for people to cope with chaotic times. Every coin has two sides, however, and art can also be used to create chaos. Whatever the situation, there is clearly a relationship between art and chaos. THE CHARIOT | 23 THE CHARIOT | 23