▶ Your Answer :
The speaker claims that nations should suspend government funding for the arts when significant numbers of their citizens are hungry or unemployed. It would seem convincing to those who believe that it is cruel to use public money to support arts when people’s basic needs are not being met. However, I disagree with the assertion because, in long -term point of view, arts could give the poor or unemployed more efficient solution to extricate them from predicament. The examples of Eiffel tower and the role of artists best illustrate the arts have played significant role in our society.
Of course, the government should make an effort to decrease the unemployment rate and help the poor by constant investment for welfare system or reemployment education when a number of people are suffering poverty and unemployment. Moreover, the public money could be used to enhance public education system with scholarship for the students without parents financially supporting them. In this sense, the public resources could be a great way to reduce the number of poor people and the unemployed.
Nevertheless, the influence of arts on our society should not be underestimated. Arts can provide more long-term relief with the poor. For example, many government agencies and French contrasted the construction of Eiffel tower, which have accumulated about two hundred million visitors since its creation. Not only the eiffel have earned a tremendous amount of tourism revenue, but also the government has been able to create thousands of jobs related with the tower. Without the idea of artist, France government might have not achieved enormous economic effect.
Moreover, the artists have carried out a role of successor of national culture and identity encouraging people. When it comes to a museum, it involves a number of priceless art works which represent each production period. By studying those works, scholars can explain the characteristic about customs, culture, life style, historical events and even morality of the time. It is obvious that artists are influenced by the spirit of the age and express it on their works. Thus, the government should support the artists to act as a protector of national culture. In sum, to support artists makes it possible for governments to make the best way to save the poor and unemployed. Short-term financial support only palliate the problem. By providing artistic works which create additional effect and preserve national identity and culture, the governments will be able to expect positive economic results. |