Purely beautiful art has the potential to actually improve society.
Currently, the importance of art on society and humanity is being studied in various scientific fields. For example, research in neuroaesthetics shows that the same brain regions are activated when viewing beautiful art and when witnessing beautiful behavior in others (such as altruistic behavior). In other words, the brain does not distinguish between beauty and virtue; both are fundamentally the same kind of joy for the core of humanity. Furthermore, neurophysiology has revealed that stimulating the five senses with art flushes out waste products from the brain. These waste products significantly impact human mental health. In the field of psychiatry, research is being conducted on how beautiful art elevates people’s consciousness towards “peace” and “joy.”
In short, it’s not that beautiful art itself is the catalyst for social change, but rather that it can change the consciousness, spirit, and brain function of those who appreciate it. I believe the important thing is for people to learn about this scientific fact and its basis through the aesthetic experience of art. When people understand this fact, the importance of art will increase even further. Our inner world (body) and outer world (reality) are interconnected.
When people encounter a new concept of art, a significant rewriting of consciousness may occur, and this may ripple out into the real world of society.