Monday, April 22, 2013

Christian Holmes Class Reading #1


Van Der Leeuw refers to dance as a “holy and useful action.” I am rather a fan of this definition of dance as a form of art. The constant theme that I have noticed so far in this class is the communicative nature of art. Art has a meaning that is derived from its symbols, and these symbols (be they through their own significance of the significance applied to them by the audience) carry a message. This message is usually one of significance to the environment that the art exists in. Even if this significance is simply to reaffirm a cultural idea or belief, art has a communicative element that carries within it a form of utility. Therefore, dance, is a physical and rhythmic manifestation of ideas or symbols that is communicative of their significance. Dance is useful, because it communicates varying points of cultural significance. 

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