Using emotions in history and the arts is a trustworthy action. In history one will see that emotions are entwined in every story because that is what history is, a compilation of stories from different sources and point of views. Who’s to say what the truth in history is? Who is the judge on whether a historical account is true or not? No one is the judge. This is what makes the pursuit of knowledge in history a purely emotional experience.
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It is hard to really know what is true because in different cultures and regions of the world history is told from different angles.
History that one learns in school is not told from different angles. It is told from an angle that portrays a certain attitude from the compiler of historical facts. Depending on what side you are on in history reflects the publicity of certain events. In schools certain topics are talked about more often, such as victories. Although the events in history may be emotional the pursuit of this knowledge is not emotional. It is only information; therefore, emotions should not be trusted when dealing with this type. Familial history is different for every person because everyone has backgrounds that are of many origins.
When a person learns about their history it is many times oral history that has been told for generations. Oral history is bound to change dramatically because as the story is told, different variations and exaggerations are added. When one person tells a story one portion of the story may be enhanced and talked about more, but that parts that aren’t told as much may be the truth and most important parts of the story. Familial history is emotional. This history encompasses struggles and successes. Each thing that happens in a family’s history holds an emotional impact on the person or people that witnessed these things.
Many times if the past is hard to talk about, due to heavy emotional impact, the story is changed or not reported. Tying emotions to pursuit of knowledge in history is unpreventable because history is an emotional subject. When a person sees art many emotions arise that causes wonderment. The journey to understanding what art is conveying is what brings forth emotion that lead one to understanding. African drumming and dancing is something that I grew up doing and listening to. In the beginning it was something that I did and never wondered about.
After my retirement from drumming and dancing I saw a performance and it set me on a roller coaster of thoughts. Through the gyrations and deep thuds moving in synchronization I experienced something I never felt while playing all of those years. Through the drumming I felt the rhythm of my own heart and through the movements life was breathed into the auditorium. The swift and acrobatic movement represented structure and valor. The drums often turned into a rough chant that spoke belligerent tones and softened, as the movements became more fluid. The drums spoke and the movements of the dancer’s bodies told a story.
Through emotions, art comes alive and new knowledge was gained from that single experiences. Because there is not a wrong answer in art it is often easier to trust emotions. Art is emotional. Emotional is what humans are; this makes us all artist. Because trusting emotions in art is simple one can challenge their mind and try to understand what is behind the art form. Through paintings and mixed media different thoughts could be conveyed according to what emotions it causes a person to have. The artist could have intended for it to convey one emotion when according to past experiences of the viewer it conveys a different tone.
In the language arts… Although one can trust emotions in the pursuit of knowledge one mustn’t trust emotion to validate knowledge. People have their own truths. Truth changes, but knowledge doesn’t. Truth changes because of a different perception that each person has. Truth is what we all believe to be valid. Knowledge is different in every person. The pursuit of knowledge is a journey. When the destination is met one can’t trust emotions to thread through the truths and falsifications, but trusting your emotions on the journey is definitely possible and makes the expedition unique to the traveler.
