Art Reboot

27 3 the functions of art What is art for? Can it even be said to have a purpose, or is it merely an emergent property of self-consciousness? The two are not, of course, mutually exclusive. As far as we know, only self- conscious humans knowingly create art, and once it exists it ful- fils many different roles. One answer is that the languages of art inform and civilise us in many ways. They are the cornerstones of culture, the cement of sagacity, the crux of consciousness. The more sophisticated we become, the less we can ignore them. Indeed, sophistication requires involvement in them, a fact well known to wealthy citi- zens who earn their place in society more through the civil- ising vehicle of their costly and impressive art collections than through their fascinating conversation and good table manners (despite which the sophisticated elite still dines with them). Rail- road barons, mining magnates or hedge-fund billionaires may initially throw money at good taste and social acceptance, but in doing so they are gradually transformed. They discover that art acts as efficient social grease; it makes them socially accept- able, not just because they own art but because the art rapidly and efficiently educates and civilises them. They cultivate good taste.