Concerned Citizen

Documentary

Artist's Statement

                I am so glad we had this assignment.  I had never heard the National Parks before, and not only did I love their music, but the lead member of the band who we interviewed turned out to be one of the nicest people I have ever met.  He was incredibly humble about both his success as a musician and his charity work.

                Some documentaries about "concerned citizens" are specifically cut and edited to make the subject look as selfless and giving as possible.  For example, the makers of the documentary about Mitt Romney, simply entitled, Mitt, definitely had a political bias.  Personally, I am sure that Mitt Romney actually is a wonderful human being, but it would be foolish and naive to pretend that it was one hundred percent objective.

                However, we did not even have to sneakily edit a cut of the interview that would paint him in a humble and sincere light, because every single thing he said actually was humble and sincere.  It would have been quite a trick to try to paint him as anything but humble.

                As is expressed in Human Rights and Culture by A. Goldbard, creativity often plays a huge role in social change.  Art is appealing, and uses pathos to convey a message.  Essentially, people like experiencing art, and it makes them feel deeply.  When people feel things, they are far more likely to do things.  It is pretty simple when it comes down to it.

                The influence of creativity and art on society can of course be misused.  I think that there is a reason propaganda is often aesthetically pleasing.  People like looking at it, and the nice colors make them feel good, so they feel good about the message, even if the message is bad.

                That does not mean that using art to convey a message in an aesthetically pleasant way in order to make people want to get on board with the mission is inherently an evilly manipulative ploy.  It can be, but it can be used for positive purposes, like the way that the National Parks use music to raise money and concern for the national parks of America.

                I think that art can give communities something to gather around in a way.  A creative work can be like a point of gravity for people who feel strongly about a common cause to come together over.  They can all identify with the particular piece of art, so they can identify with each other.  Art can articulate, in a creative and beautiful way, the thoughts and feelings that they all share.