The 20th Century and Changes to Art
People create and appreciate art for different reasons. Art expands and extends the shared visual language of people since introduction of visual ideas comes as a shock to the audience but with time the ideas are accepted. Over the 20th century, art has played an integral role in expressing new ways of seeing familiar things as well as interpreting new events and situations. The way artists and their audience see things has been shifting as artists change from one form and movement of art to another thus changing the vantage point from which to observe and understand art. The changes have been occasioned by the aspects of society regarding industry, economics, and social unrest.
Each art work has been an expression of the subject in terms of the events, culture, and values of its particular era. Art, for example has served as tool for social commentary and propaganda. As a propaganda tool, art has persuaded people towards specific actions or viewpoints promoted by institutions, for instance, religious groups, governments, lobbyists, and political parties. During the Second World War, art was used as propaganda material to get women behind the war effort. One such piece was Norman Rockwell's Rosie the Riveter,
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By making an appealing image, drama, literature, or music, the artist, at times acts as a social commentator to make the audience aware of the human condition according to their perception, without directly suggesting particular action. It is then upon the audience to take the necessary action to change what the artist was addressing. Art in the 20th century changed from giving emphasis on recognizable objects to appreciation of the use of composition, line, and color. As such, art became an expression of the artist’s feelings which were under the artist’s