Art’s value lies in what our experience makes it

Anticipating some anger over a recent column that singled out performing and creative arts majors, I thought it might be useful to write about the value of the arts and artistic endeavors.

This will not be a Panglossian tract, wistfully looking back at kindergarten fingerpainting classes, musing over the captured elegance of a Turner sunset or gushing over interpretation of a jazz riff. As you might expect, this treatment of the arts will be one of cold-hearted economics.

Arts advocates often begin a discussion about the value of the arts as supplementary education to life’s other endeavors. The argument is familiar. Exposure to the arts provides some of the discipline and insight needed to excel in other fields.

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