Art Quote by Wendell Berry
““The idea that people can be improved by being offended will finally have to meet the idea (espoused some of the time by some of the same people) that books, popular songs, movies, television shows, sex videos, and so on are "just fiction" or "just art" and therefore exist "for their own sake" and have no influence. To argue that works of art are "only" fictions or self-expressions and therefore cannot cause bad behavior is to argue also that they cannot cause good behavior. It is, moreover, to make an absolute division between art and life, experience and life, mind and body - a division that is intolerable to anyone who is at all serious about being a human or a member of a community or even a citizen.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Art of Living, Wendell Berry, 1990
Art and media influence behavior; claiming they are harmless fiction ignores their power to shape values and actions.
In simple terms: Art affects us, good or bad.
Key Takeaway
Recognize media’s impact on behavior.
Themes
responsibility
art
society
culture
ethics
Mood
reflective
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
social commentary
ethical
When to use this quote
- education
- policy making
- parenting
- media literacy
- community discussions
Key Concepts
media influence
human behavior
community
citizenship
Questions to Reflect On
- How does art shape your values?
- Can fiction inspire ethical actions?
A Different Perspective
Art can inspire positive change, not just negative.
