Do younger people still enjoy the cultural arts?
By cadicat
@cadicat (23)
United States
February 5, 2007 11:06pm CST
I just want to know if some people agree with me. These days, younger audiences are harder to find for the cultural arts such as the ballet and the symphony. Stereotypes create the image in their young minds that these things are "sissy" and not worth their while, but what then is worth their while? Why cant more kids in middle school and high school be interested in more than the latest fashions and be into something that more traditional and historical
8 responses
@bhaskar556 (328)
• India
9 Feb 07
ya, i think young people still knows the importance and have charm for the cultural arts. may b bcoz of bussy shedules they did not able to attend such concerts but according to me these arts can never get old fashioned.
@ConservativeArtist (201)
• United States
8 Feb 07
It seems to me that younger people view "cultural" arts as old-fashioned, as something their parents enjoy. Adolescents naturally go through a rebellious stage where they break away from the parents to become more independent (otherwise they would never leave the house.) I think this urge is inherent in all us. If classical arts were not seen as old-fashioned, then younger adults would probably give these arts more attention.
It also seems that more young adults like these "cultural arts" than they let on. If they weren't as worried about being nabbed by "the cool police" then they would probably admit it more readily.
@skydancer (2101)
• United States
7 Feb 07
I was part of that small minority who just blasted through that and didn't internalize those stereotypes enough to let them effect my participation in the cultural arts - as you called it. I never cared for anything that was "hyped." As a general rule, whatever is uncool is cool to me and vice versa, and it is pretty much the same way now. I think those who participate in those activities (rather than just watching them) and start very young are more likely to take it with them throughout their life somehow. That helps to shatter some of the stereotypes when you can actually see for yourself what it takes. I think that whole age group is going through a phase where hormones start to kick in and it's important to please, to be liked, to do what you think others want you to do. You are exposed to these stereotypes and these are not images most people of that age group would aspire to. Since this is the age where most are just finding who you are and where you stand in this world and what your "calling" (so to speak) in life is, your self esteem is being tested constantly, and you don't want to be ridiculed as it was just make growing into yourself all the more stressful - so you resort to having to be one of the "cool" kids. Many learn to appreciate these things more as they grow older and more open and their sense of self isn't being tested so much. At least that is my observation.
@ronslove (481)
• Philippines
12 Feb 07
Well me, I am into traditional dances. I'd been into a cultural dance troupe since gradeschool until university. My group in highschool and university did a reseach for some cultural minorities here in the Philippines and we perform their dances.Cultural dances is a story teller, it reveals our past and it's interest in unlike this days there's no story behind dance movement.
@merkava (1225)
• Philippines
6 Feb 07
My local country is very much in tune with it's past. We have so many festivals celebrating the past eras. The people that participate on those events are mostly children and teens. They perform on the streets and in outdoor theaters. I was also involved in those activities back in my days. We used to call them "fiesta!"
@mssnow (9484)
• United States
6 Feb 07
I think its all in how they are raised. My son who is in college now was raised to enjoy the arts. He played in the highschool band and he loves classical music. He will attend the ballet with me if I ask him. I raised him to enjoy all of life and that include the arts.