a defense of art

picasso once said that "art is a lie that makes us realize truth." and really, this is what art and literature and plays are: deceits that probe the human condition. the exaggerations that could not exist in the real world are allowed to take form and create meaning in art. the hidden subtleties of life can be examined through the lens of a story. the incomprehensible darkness of humanity can be explored in cinema. by drawing our attention to the varied facets of the human condition, the arts give us a glimpse into the larger picture and the larger questions. What does it mean to be human? What are the implications of eternity?

and thus we can step onto a higher plane. we can not only look at our lives from a utilitarian viewpoint, but also from the perspective of beauty. through the art we create, we can catch a deep and raw glimpse of our feelings, ideals, and values. and, in doing so, we can become more than machines whose happiness dials have been set to "maximize." art is indeed a lie, but behind those lies are the voices of humanity.