Every skill has to be monetized in the United States. In a capitalistic society, people are forced to monetize every thing they are able to accomplish in order to survive. Almost 40% of Americans have a side hustle, and nearly 8.4 million Americans report having two or more jobs.
But within this, there is a sharp divide of what is actually considered valuable. Marketable skills in fields dominated by men, such as engineering and medicine, are monetized at a much higher rate than other just as important areas, such as art and music. While these areas may not seem as important at first thought, there are many critical things that the arts bring to our society.
To begin simply, art fuels and inspires creativity, which funnels directly into innovation, improvement, and change. These are all much-needed things if we want our society to continue to grow in a humane way. Engineering, too, of course, is important in this, but engineering and art need to go together to improve in a way that prioritizes human well-being.
Art is also critical for challenging perspectives and growing human connection. It empowers learning and leads to open-mindedness. Art can also take the form of literature, which is necessary for connecting with people and generations to come. Language and communication is a core part of being a human that has been proven century after century.
Art also strengthens the human brain. Dance, for example, has been shown to have a direct connection to the neuroplasticity of the brain. This enhances creativity and therefore innovation.
Art, at the very core, promotes beauty. While this can be easily dismissed, it leads to many things that overall improve mental health, which is just as important as physical health. Art can be used in therapy, both in terms of physical art and music. It provides a place of escapism that can be invaluable to humanity.
Art provides inspiration for humans as well, in all mediums. Books, performances, music, paintings. They provide an eye into somebody else’s soul. They inspire sharing and love and for people to see the best in humanity.