Sofia Irwin - Performing Arts and the Prosaic

 PERFORMING ARTS AND THE PROSAIC


In our discussions on the Poetic throughout this semester, we’ve talked a lot about how art is used as a mode of expressing reality. It’s awesome in both its creation and interpretation because the work of art can show just a fragment of the artist’s view of the world as it is or as it could be. Since people can interpret things differently and we can never really use language to describe meaning well, it’s up to each viewer to make their own conclusions and take from the work what is relevant to them. In this, it is constantly changing and can’t be said to be stuck as one thing. It’s in a state of BECOMING. That’s what is so beautiful about it.


Then I think about art in a competitive context. As a dancer, competitions are commonplace and people will travel from all over the country for them. There are also show choirs, drawing/painting/sculpting contests as well as singing competitions like the Voice or Eurovision. And don’t even get me started on the job market–that’s a whole competition in itself. 


But why would someone want to compete in art? Is it to see who can express themselves the best? Who can move the most members of the audience? That doesn’t sound right…


So here’s my thought: what if art isn’t just about the Poetic? I mean, people go to school to study art, but inspiration isn’t something you can find in a classroom behind a desk. I would argue that performing arts have both poetic AND prosaic elements, because the only part that would make sense to judge is that which can be evaluated objectively. The audience is looking at the Poetic, but the judges give ribbons to those who demonstrate they have developed and could demonstrate technical skills: the Prosaic.


Some forms of poetic art wouldn’t even be possible without first learning it as a prosaic art. You can move to the rhythm of a song, but you can’t call that ballroom dance unless you’re taking predetermined steps. Especially in a partner dance, you both need to know what you’re doing so that you don’t end up either stepping on each other’s feet or falling down.

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