Art Theory by Cynthia Freeland (Ch. 3) - Response

Art Theory by Cynthia Freeland (Ch. 3) - Response

Quote:

“In the modern world, no culture, however ‘primitive’ and remote, remains isolated” (Freeland 42).

Response:

I believe what Cynthia Freeland is trying to say is that in this day and age we are more connected than ever before; we know incredibly more information about everything.  Whether we as a society recognize it or not, we are influenced by the cultures within our country as well as the countries and cultures outside of ours - expanding far and wide.  The notion that “no culture is isolated” poses some trouble to me.  For one, I believe that America in particular is unaware of many other cultures as a whole.  Although we pride ourselves for being a very diverse country, many of us have no idea what other cultures are truly like unless we have spent time in those areas personally.  We may also collectively “know” a great deal of information about another culture, but as stated before it is one thing to actually experience it first hand, rather than read about it or see a piece of art from there.  That goes hand in hand with knowing more about the art and other rituals that come from that country.  For that reason many things, although we may be very well read on the culture, will feel alien or foreign to us. 

I believe that the notion “Culture travels, like people” (Freeland 41), communicates well with the quote above.  It generally states that cultures experience change and “take” things from other cultures that they implement into their own.  From this communication, or passing of information, many cultures find their ways into others and become less isolated, for they share common qualities/customs.

Questions:

1. If art is such a great window into another culture and their customs, rituals and beliefs, how can it be too simple of an idea while still being an attractive notion?
2. If every innovation or art form is influenced by another, what is the original form and was it influenced by anything?
3. What is the true art form?  Is there any art that classical, modern, and postmodern tendencies sprout from and are inspired by?
4. Could it be argued that some countries, so vast and foreign to most other countries, have gone almost untouched culturally?