Is the Art of Story-Telling the Most Superior Form of Art?
Imagine this: In a world full of only scientists, would there still be a need for artists?
There is a popular quotation from a very celebrated 1989 movie, Dead Poets Society, which has been making rounds on the internet for a couple of years now. It goes, “Medicine, law, business, engineering, these are noble pursuits, and necessary to sustain life. But poetry, beauty, romance, love, these are what we stay alive for.” So, I think it is safe to infer from this school of thought that scientists in their hypothetical world would need artists after all. I do not agree. But before my arguments invite aggressive eyebrows, I want to come clean. Hey, I want people to like me as well. Now, let’s take it from the top.
What is art? If only I received a hug every time I was asked this question. I am an emotional person. Get over it. But hang in there, I promise it’ll be different this time. For starters, I won’t give you an arbitrary definition of what art is -instead, we’ll create one, on our own. Let’s make it simple.
Is singing an art form? Yes. Is culinary an art form? Oui. Massage? Sure. Well, for the very perceptive of you, you must have noticed a pattern. Art has something to do with the sensory appeal. But what about story-telling? It is an art form, as well. But, you see, the essence of its appeal isn’t sensory. Instead, it draws on cognitive appeal. The elements of this art form are heavily abstract, like the concept of drama, suspense, plots, conflicts, etc.
So, art is something that has a sensory or a cognitive appeal. Come to think of it; the cognitive appeal is not an accidental element of the artwork, rather it is ingrained in all forms of art. Tell me, what makes a good song? There are a lot of variables, I’m sure. But one fundamental aspect is the fact that a good song draws upon how a melody sounds like and then puts a fresh spin on it. That’s the cognitive aspect of it. So, art is something that has a sensory and a cognitive appeal. So far, so good. I feel like we are getting somewhere.
Now, Is communication an art form? Well, this might divide the room, maybe because the notion comes so naturally to us. The act of communicating is so ordinary that it loses the luxury to be called an art form. But often, when you come across a person who just sways away pretty girls from your side, like the wild wind — only by the way he talks; you are left with no choice but to call that man an artist.
But if art is, in any way about the cognitive appeal, wasn’t the invention of the electric bulb a work of art as well? The work was based upon the knowledge of electrical energy, and it caused a pleasant sensation of vision. It has to be called art by this definition. So, aren’t all scientists — artists after all? Now, this does blur the line between what we call an artist and a scientist. Definitely, scientists are a unique group of people with very different means of vocation. But what is that variable which contrasts them with artists and gives them their distinct identities?
The answer seems to be the accessibility of the work. The aptitude of the general masses to understand and criticize their work. Hence, art is something that has a sensory and a cognitive appeal which is based on a shared understanding of the world.
Since art is based on something which is very overt in nature and society in general, and so, the invention of the electric bulb was a scientific innovation for the world, more than a work of art. Now that the market is flooded with led bulbs, it might come off as a technological advancement to us, but it must seem like a work of art to the electronics community. Similarly, the painting of Mona Lisa is a work of art to the world, but it must seem like a technical accomplishment to the contemporary painters.
So, in a world full of only scientists, they wouldn’t need ‘artists,’ as they would be one themselves.
Now that we have established what art is, we move on to ‘story-telling.’ Now when I say story-telling, I do not mean the spoken act of narrating a story. I refer to the act of concocting a story, assembling it, and communicating it in any way, shape, or form.
It is mainly a means to stimulate cognitive appeal. And the medium in which it is communicated determines its sensory appeal although it is very interesting to note how flexible this art form is. Part of the reason that makes it so universal. But this also begs the question, what makes stories so flexible and universal?
I believe the answer to this does not lie in some technique that is cultivated and polished over time but rather lies in each one of us. It is in our ability of how we perceive the world around us. It is in our ability to learn from our mistakes. It is in our ability to recall. It is in our ability to recollect.
We are inherently equipped to reminisce experiences from our unbent track of feelings and thoughts and weave them into stories. This is what helps us to give meaning to our lives. This is what helps us to empathize. This is what provokes us to do more, to do better. This is what we fill our learning into. Stories. Stories help us remember better. This is what makes it so universal and flexible. And in this sense, it is the most extraordinary form of art.
This article, for example, draws upon the cognitive appeal of language. The art of article-writing is an effective form of art to communicate an idea. But can you guess what would have made this idea more memorable? A story.
In fact, think of all the art forms, old and contemporary — be it animation, ice sculpting, graffiti, culinary, sand art — we can all admire the sensory aesthetics of it. But when that art form associates itself with a story, it adds a sense of awe and meaning to it. It makes it memorable. It makes it immortal. Doesn’t that make it better? Doesn’t that make it superior?
