Critical Essay on the Function of Art

Art played a significant role in the historical societies of the World. Similarly, literature has also established itself a pillar of communication in the present life. There are several activities that the ancient authorities and members of the society engaged in that could only be portrayed through arts. Music can either act as a hammer to shape the culture or a mirror of the community. However, there is more evidence in the nation with which music portrays the way a society behaves and as such, a mirror which reflects the community. This essay intends to critically assess how music acted as a mirror in society to depict the behavior of individuals and their perceptions about certain phenomena. The write-up also attempts to relate the musical themes and the societal norms and practices as a reflection of the actual actions.

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The race is an essential element in the American musical play. The African-Americans reveal certain ways in which the drama portrays them. The minority's roles in the jazz dance of the African-American chorus are of low worth. There was little integration of the African -Americans in the shows. Few members from the minority crossed over into the white Americans Broadway where they also faced racial discriminations and received minimal support. However, some shows illustrate an improvement in the integration with the white Americans and the African Americans performing in "The Southerners" in 1905.

A contact dance play piece "Did You Move?" occurs in a setting of an Italian restaurant featuring a wife and a husband. The Mafioso husband (Jason Antoon) enters the restaurant with a gun and which leads to violence. The scene of the restaurant signifies the gender relationships in the society. The violent acts of men in the communities towards the female counterparts are also an illustration of the gender relationships. Disputes in marriages are common in the current societies which spread even to the extended families. The play illustrates how a wife and a mother in law enter a conflict when Jenny declares war on her fiance's mother.

Gender characteristics and the perceptions of the society manifest in the American Musical comedy from "The Black Crook." The woman in the chorus serves as an object for public amusement and delight. The female actor is also a cause of argument in the play. A man, on the other hand, is an item of humiliation. Roles such as singing and dance in the play were against the traditions of the character of men (Aken & Rene). This division of duties is a reflection of the society today in which some responsibilities still belong to women or men, and as such, any individual doing a different function is seen as an outcast. The responsibilities of gender are however changing, and the play also illustrates the emerging functions of the "New Woman". The present professions similar to what the play implied have a thin line between the male and female gender duties.

Musical plays also portray the behavior of the society during the war times. The wars change the perception of the society depending on the extent of the aftermath. The mindset of the community during historical times has experienced a transformation leading to a new way of thinking for the current societies (Tomlinson 40). Popular songs in the ancient days during World War I and World War II were essential in luring support from the citizens. However, music has shifted its role and acts as a channel to portray the anti-war attitude of society. The Vietnam War and its broadcast illustrate the changes in the feelings of the community from supporting to opposing violence. The musicals showed the increase in the conflict within the American authority. For instance, a song by Al Bryan "I Didn't Raise My Boy to Be a Soldier" had many fans which imply the way the society opposed the war. This resistance is a reflection of the current culture which the majority of the individuals are against conflicts.

However, music may also serve as a hammer for the nation through which the practices of a community undergoes modification. After acting as a mirror, individuals gain knowledge and understanding about their behaviors. The society can then shape and modify the norms they perceive to be limiting the desired ethics such as the need for gender equality and racial integration. The members can moreover, strategize on the ways to eliminate unethical actions such as racism, gender segregation and different kinds of war.

Conclusion

In conclusion, a society that embraces artwork and specifically music have the opportunity of improving its traditions. The musical acts in the historical theatre activities portrayed the happenings within the community. Different characters helped to signify how racism, gender imbalance, and war occurred. Similarly, musical scenes in the present day societies are proving to be helpful in communicating the activities of the communities. Several arts represent issues such as inter-racial relationships, gender equality and discrimination, and conflicts.

Works Cited

Tomlinson, Christina. "America's changing mirror: How popular music reflects public opinion during wartime." Explorations (2010): 40.

Van Aken, Kellee Rene. Race and Gender in the Broadway Chorus. Diss. University of Pittsburgh, 2007.