Art and the World Around Us 

French-Canadian author Gabrielle Roy is famously quoted on the back

of the $20 bill. She wonders, “Could we ever know each other in the
slightest without the arts!”

Think about this statement. What does she mean? How do

people learn about each other through forms of art, such as
painting, photography, novels, music, and poetry?

Artists of every type often express their thoughts about the

world and the human condition through their art. Gabrielle
Roy’s The Tin Flute is a good example. It takes place in a
poverty-stricken neighborhood in Montreal during the Great
Depression, when people are very worried about money, the
war, and their health. The main characters of this story
face many obstacles in their desire to achieve a better life.
Music is also a powerful example. During the 1960s and ‘70s, many
musicians, such as Neil Young, protested the war between the United States
and Vietnam and supported civil rights by singing about these issues.

Similarly, art is a way for people to look back into history and learn about
the way of life, the habits, and the interests of people of that era. Art can
be a form of historical record to learn and grow from.

Choose one of the following projects:

1. What sort of issues are you facing in your community and/or country
right now? Does your community have a large population of
homeless? Is there a high unemployment rate? Choose any artistic
format and express your thoughts on the matter. Some examples
include writing a story or song about the tribulations of a made-up
person in your town, drawing a picture of the problems people face,
taking photos of the consequences of this problem, or writing a poem
about how you feel about the issue at hand.

2. Can you think of any recent, positive experiences in your life that you
know you will see as a defining moment when you’re older? For
example, has there been a recent addition to your family? Have you
moved away from a long-time home? Have you achieved any hard-
fought goals? Record the experience with an art form. Express how
you’re feeling and how your life is changed or will change by this
event.

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