Art is the Unspoken Language

As you stroll into the emptied  white room with the canvas spread against the walls you approach one like no other. A portrait that reaches out to you, and leaves you speechless. The words were ripped from your mouth, and leaves you exasperated with mumbling staggered fragments in attempt of what you would like to say. The reason no words emerged to you clearly, is because there is no limit to what you can say in art, therefore we should not attempt to limit it with words.

Language can only go so far, but art is the unspoken language of infinite emotions.  We were made without limits; whether you believe our creator was god, or atheistic evolution is the reason for our existence; somewhere along the line we began setting limits for ourselves. An artist expresses passion through his work in a unique point of view. I find it incorrect for students to be told to respond to art with writing. Not because I am a student and am looking to get out of work, but because art can not be expressed through words, and was intended to be that way by the artist himself. When we use the  47, 156 obsolete words of the English language we loose the passion that was put into the piece. Our world has evolved to a place where you must respond to everything with literature: why cant we respond using the unspoken language: art?

Instead of requiring students to describe how they felt when they looked at a piece of art, they should be given a choice between responding with literature, or art based on what they are more comfortable with. By making your own piece of work you can express your feelings more easily, and still show the symbolism and and message you got out of the piece.