Should morals get in the way of art appreciation? Why should we appreciate art work that portrays immoral behavior?
If
we let our morals get in the way of art then we cannot appreciate it for its
aesthetic aspects. This gives reason to Kant's view of looking at art with
disinterest. If one brings their own morals into the piece, they will never see
the art piece in a different way. It would be a burden only to look at a piece
for the sake of the morals and dismiss the piece because of personal morals. Many
times, people have a hard time looking at art pieces and really opening their
minds to different possibilities. There are guidelines of how to look at art so
one just doesn't judge but explore. It’s easy to judge a book by its cover and
let morals interfere with the way we look at a piece. That is why art is even
more valuable personally when we let our bias come second not first.
Even if an art piece portrays immoral behavior, does not mean it is bad
or cruel. It is portraying the truth. Immoral behavior happens all around us.
The portrayal of it lets us learn from it and enforces why it’s wrong and the
behavior should not be committed. For example, in the movie Cinderella it is
immoral for the step sisters and step mother to treat Cinderella so harsh and
harass her due to jealousy. But, we feel sympathy for Cinderella and know that
the actions of Cinderella’s step sisters and step mother are not the moral way
to act. In the end, Cinderella marries the Prince and lives happily ever after,
more reasons for us not to follow such immoral behavior because we will lose in
the end. Of course, this type of depiction will be most effective with children.
But, there is still a lesson to be learned.
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