Morning gents! To start this post, I need to ask this question. What is art? If you ask that question to a hundred different people, you’ll likely get a hundred different answers. The way I define art, however, is as follows: any medium that allows someone to express emotion outside of natural human expression, like speech and natural movement. This is a large umbrella of media, including visual art, music, dance, theater, photography, even film, architecture and cooking. Art is arguably the biggest defining feature of any nation’s culture, and the United States is no different. Our nation’s culture has been defined by great musicians like Louis Armstrong and John Williams, film directors like Stanley Kubrick, George Lucas, and Steven Spielberg, and overall creative icons like Walt Disney. However, in today’s society, U.S. culture is also being defined by something else; it has practically become taboo for men past a certain age to express any sort of emotion other than stoicism and bravery. Any man who shows any kind of fear, sadness, or any other natural human emotion is seen as weak, or the beta male (which likely will deserves a post in its own right explaining the absurdity of that idea). So in a culture where men are seen as weak and “not real men” for naturally expressing emotion, studying art is starting to become more and more important to a young man. While a man will be harshly criticized for expressing emotion the way any human would naturally, he will be substantially less criticized for using art to express said emotion (though he may be seriously judged for practicing certain kinds of music or dance, which is just as ridiculous). So while any of you young men reading this may be made fun of or criticized for actually speaking your emotions, consider pursuing art. I’ve found my outlet in music. I have friends who are musicians, some are very skilled chefs, and other men I know are even extremely talented actors! In a society that won’t accept you if you show emotion regularly, hopefully you can find another way to express yourself that you enjoy.
I know this post was much less formulaic than my last few posts, but I hope any of you young men reading this are able to take it to heart and find a constructive outlet to express yourself. Be sure to follow the blog and check out any of The Young Gentleman’s Guide’s’ posts. Also make sure to check out all our social media pages, send TYGG an email at younggentlemansguide@gmail.com, and let me know how any of your artistic endeavors go! Until next time, gents, this is Max from The Young Gentleman’s Guide, and I’ll see you next time!
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