Do we need the arts (music, acting, dance, drawing/painting/design) in our lives? Why or why not?

I feel like we are never without the arts — somehow. The question is whether the arts are used as an escape or pure entertainment — which, of course, there is nothing wrong with — but I want to reverse the question to say how can the arts be used to make our lives better? Does that make sense? How can they be more than frivolous? For some reason, I want to think of the arts as a part of mutual aid. I’ll make this song if you make soup for our neighborhood. Then I’ll entertain people while they wait in line. Also, too much of life is boring and artless. That might be another way to ask the question How can we bring the arts into our lives more centrally, more moment-by-moment, as a constant support in everything we do?

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