Monthly TOEFL essay #2: The future of art

“I can't understand why people are frightened of new ideas. I'm frightened of the old ones.” This is the famous quotes from John Cage. This quote reflects the spirit of contemporary art like Dadaism, Fluxus, abstract art, etc. They have been tried to destroy the paradigm of previous art. Therefore, they create new world of art and contemporary art becomes the representative art of 20th century. However, I assume this innovative paradigm would be changed in 21st century as John Cage's desire. The artists will make pieces which are very different from contemporary art.

The first reason why I strongly believe the change of art is related with characteristic of contemporary art. People who really enjoy the works of Dadaism or Fluxus are usually erudite people, especially in the field of art. They know the background of the art piece such as the movement which the artist belongs to or the external and internal context of the art piece. They may have ever read Gombrich's 'the story of art' at least one time. However, most of people have never studied about art. Therefore, they would just assess the work with only the work. Of course, the work is great itself but it's difficult to enjoy the contemporary art without the knowledge about it. It reflects social hierarchy. This hierarchy will spur the artists to be against with it.

In addition to educational status, economical status is reflected in the contemporary work. Jackson Pollock's 'No.5' was sold in 140million dollars. I don't try to condemn the work but this work was used as a method to show off the owner's wealth. This trend has been since the art was born. The contemporary artists who have tried to break a paradigm fail to break the trend. However, I think the artists of 21th century would change the trend. This irrationality of contemporary art and good environment like wider territory of democracy, equal society in the internet would inspire them. 21st century's artist will make the movement of art which is free from educational and economical hierarchy.

Another reason is related with Hegel's dialectic. To make a brief explanation of Hegel's dialectic, the basic principle is thesis-antithesis-synthesis. Thesis is an intellectual proposition, antithesis is the negation of thesis, and synthesis is solution of conflicts between thesis and antithesis by reconciling them. Comtemporary art is the thesis. Because art is from human's idea, the history of art has followed dialectic. Therefore, in 21st century, to follow the dialectic, antithesis and synthesis will appear and the paradigm will be changed.

In conclusion, the future is unknown before it becomes the present. However, the prediction of future reflects the present's reality and hope. After study about contemporary art, I predict the future of art with some evidences. If art changes to what I predict, many people will be able to enjoy various art.