What is the purpose of art?

This position holds that the purpose of art is expression. It argues that art is how people give form to thoughts, ideas and identities not otherwise shared — satisfying a basic human instinct for harmony and balance, and offering a way to experience and reflect the universe.

This position holds that the purpose of art is communication. Its arguments observe that people use art to tell stories from myth to everyday life, to advertise and market products, and to spread political and social messages that build consensus and drive change.

This position holds that art serves entertainment and self-improvement. Its arguments note that art is used therapeutically for healing and diagnosis, that it evokes a wide range of emotions in viewers, and that making art offers a uniquely free space for creativity and self-expression.

This position holds that art serves a functional purpose. Its argument is that one of art's oldest roles is to beautify the useful objects of everyday life — ceramics, glassware, jewellery, furniture, textiles and clothing — a decorative function stretching back thousands of years.