Can the arts serve as a moral compass in difficult times?
In short: Sir Andrew Motion explores whether the arts are merely decorative or if they possess the power to recalibrate our human direction amidst profound economic and social upheaval.
In this lecture, Motion distinguishes between the 'use' and 'value' of beautiful things. He argues that while economic shifts have burdened millions, they also offer a unique opportunity to reset our internal compass. He suggests that the arts function as a 'peculiar mixture of refuge and vantage point,' providing both a sanctuary for the spirit and a way to view the world from a new perspective.
Drawing on his own life, Motion describes how a mentor and a library provided the 'oxygen' for his artistic mind. He posits that the value of art lies in its paradoxes: it makes the familiar strange, reminds us of what we already know, and allows us to 'enjoy and endure' by simultaneously shocking and consoling us.
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- Summary by Intellect · source: Resetting the Human Compass: The Use and Value of the Arts - Sir Andrew Motion
- Also: Resetting the Human Compass: The Use and Value of the Arts
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