Why Beginnings?

Why is it important if a definition or a concept is recent or old? Because I believe that in order to create, develop, or use anything, one has to know (understand) what that thing is. Every nation and ethnicity teaches its children from a very young age who they are by telling them the story of the forming of their people or the founding of their country. In college and university as far as I know and remember, any subject selected as a major includes courses of its history and development, including art, music, architecture, etc.

I believe that understanding the beginning of a subject or object reveals its functions and characteristics.  And even if they have changed over the years (which is almost always the case), those initial functions and characteristics help in understanding the present conditions of the subject or object. And I think it is fair to say that the present condition isn’t always an improvement of the initial situation. (First example that comes to mind is the food industry and fast food.)

So as far as art is concerned, it is still and was for awhile considered that a cultured person is one who attends art functions and has knowledge of art to share with others. But since that definition of culture is very recent (two – three centuries), who were the people who attended art gatherings and collected art pieces before that? Why did those people do it? Did ancient Maya people try to impress others with great knowledge of the persons who engraved their buildings and ritual articles?

Did the medieval European go to a mystery play to impress his neighbors or to be called cultured?

I think the answer is no. So what did they do? How did they relate to the art of their day?

Because answering those questions, I believe, will give me (and hopefully you, my reader) the missing link or the new fresh look necessary to create and enjoy great, masterly and compelling art.