Art acts as a collective memory of society. Through expressive outlets such as paintings, sculptures, music, literature and other art forms, artists preserve life as we know it even better than historical fact-based records. Art expresses how it felt to exist in a particular time. Ancient artists showcased their daily lives in the form of cave paintings and petroglyphs in Bhimbhetka, Venus of Berekhat Ram, and others around the world. These expressive outlets showcased life hundreds of thousands of years ago in its most accurate form.

Art is also communicative—it helps people from various cultures understand and communicate with each other through songs, pictures and stories. People often relate to other societies and cultures through their artistic representations. An excellent example of this is people connecting images of barn houses and windmills to Holland and of the Taj Mahal to India.

Art is often a preferred vehicle for social change. Governments use murals, paintings, sculptures, drama, movies and songs as propaganda material to change public opinion and launch public informational campaigns. For example, the Government of India often uses murals and paintings to discourage open defecation, foeticide, tree felling and other societal ills. The U.S. army used the slogan “I want you for U.S. Army” along with a photo of “Uncle Sam” as a popular recruitment drive poster.

In addition to the above, art often brings historical moments to life through motion pictures such as Schindler’s list, the Pianist, Border, Lagaan, and many others. Such art forms profoundly impact us and are a powerful way to stir public opinion.

“These intrinsic effects enrich individual lives, but they also have a public spillover component in that they cultivate the kinds of citizens desired in a pluralistic society. These are the social bonds created among individuals when they share their arts experiences through reflection and discourse, and the expression of common values and community identity through artworks commemorating events significant to a nation’s (or people’s) experience.”