The moral responsibilities of art
leo tolstoy
art is not a pleasure, a solace, or an amusement; art is a great matter. art is an organ of human life, transmitting man’s reasonable perception into feeling. in our age of the common religious perception of men is the consciousness of the brotherhood of man—we know that the well-being of man lies in union with his fellow-men. true science should indicate the various methods of applying this consciousness to life. art should transform this perception into feeling.
the task of art is enormous. through the influence of real art, aided by science guided by religion, that peaceful cooperation of man which is now obtained by external means—by our law-courts, police, charitable institutions, factory inspection, etc.—should be obtained by man’s free and joyous activity. art should cause violence to be set aside.
and it is only art that can accomplish this.
all that now, independently of the fear of violence and punishment, makes the social life of man possible (and already now this is an enormous part of the order of our lives)—all this has been brought about by art. if by art it has been inculcated how people should treat religious objects, their parents, their children, their wives, their relations, strangers, foreigners; how to conduct themselves to their elders, their superiors, to those who suffer, to their enemies, and to animals; and if this has been obeyed through generations by millions of people, not only unenforced by any violence, but so that the force of such customs can be shaken in no way but by means of art—then, by the same art, other customs, more in accord with the religious perception of our time, may be evoked. if art has been able to convey the sentiment of reverence for images; of shame at betraying a comrade, devotion to a flag, the necessity of revenge for an insult, the need to sacrifice one’s labor for the adornment of churches, the duty of defending one’s honor or the glory of one’s native land—then that same art can also evoke reverence for the dignity of every man and for the life of every animal; can make men ashamed of luxury, of violence, of revenge, or of using for their pleasure that of which others are in need; can compel people freely, gladly, and without noticing it, to sacrifice themselves in the service of man.
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what does the writer appear to appreciate most about art?
the influence it has over our social lives
the various interpretations brought out by different people
its ability to bring emotions to life it its audiences
its tendency to diminish acts of violence
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