Quote:
Originally Posted by lucifer_sam
I understand that a lot of people balk at the idea for there being rhyme or reason behind art, because they think that implies there is something prescribed to an individual about the artistic direction of their choice. It is this notion of individualism in art that needs wholesale abandonment: it was, is, and will continue to be a means of EXPRESSION, not DISTINCTION.
It's pretty easy to grasp from there why demonstratively creative people pose an evolutionary advantage over others who lack certain such characteristics.
Music is math.
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As I think about it, my distaste is less about a reason behind art's existence, and more about the reason Levitin provided; reproduction. Perhaps this comes down to personal biases, but I would be more accepting of music as having a purpose in social bonding or cognitive development (two points made that I did not refute). Perhaps it's because I see reproduction as such a selfish and animalistic imperative, I would hate for my love of it to boil down to a manipulation of my senses for genetic gain. The very notion sits poorly with me.
Creativity as a whole should have been considered, and which I think has a very practical purpose evident today. Our entire progression as a species has resulted from human ingenuity. Without our curiosity and innovation, we would still be animals.