Contemporary Humanism in the Arts

Contemporary humanist art often delves into themes of identity, relationships, emotions, and the search for meaning in a complex world. It eschews the attitude of perceived superiority and elitism towards art and its appreciation.

Seeing Art as a contemplative form rather than one of consumption helps to explain true art whether in visual or audio form. This is why the paradox of art and music existing in a kind of parallel flux is omnipresent in society.

Can an artist or musician look into his or her or it’s own soul when signing to a major gallery or music label. Is ‘selling out’ still art? And thus are the multitudes of musicians and artists who follow the fiscal path really artists in the true sense? Many will claim they need to survive, but are the lines between survival and profit too vanilla?

But to savage Humanism down to fiscal values is surely flawed as well. Politically, the defiance of religious and secular authority has led to democracy, human rights, and the protection of the environment. Humanists make no apologies for this. Humanists twist no biblical doctrine to justify such actions. They recognize the Promethean defiance of their response and take pride in it. For this is part of the tradition.

To borrow from American Humanist (a title itself that seems like an oxymoron in a dystopian Trump landscape), the humanist ideas (both secular and religious) can be explained (in my view) as follows:

1. Humanists think for themselves and are not averse to challenging the status quo or exploring new ideas.

2. Humanism focuses on comprehanding reality

3. Humanism is a philosophy of reason and science in the pursuit of knowledge. Therefore, when it comes to the question of the most valid means for acquiring knowledge of the world, Humanists reject arbitrary faith, authority, revelation, and altered states of consciousness.

4. Humanists embrace the philosophy of imagination, of new ways of looking at the world through inspiration and emotion.

5. Humanism is a philosophy for today. Humanists regard human values as making sense only in the context of human life rather than in the promise of a supposed life after death.

6. Humanism places great importance on compassion and society.

7. Humanism is in tune with enlighteded social thought and embraces technology where it can be used ethically.

8. Humanism is a philosophy that embraces life, valuing personal responsibility, discovery, and the pursuit of knowledge over predetermined answers. It celebrates the freedom and adventure of exploring new ideas and possibilities.