Cornell University
Cornell University: Art, Design, and Visual Thinking: Purposes of Art
University instructor Charlotte Jirousek identifies and explains common purposes that art seeks to satisfy, such as commemorating an event, fulfilling a religious impulse, or commenting on society.
Other
American Institute of Graphic Arts: Art and Propaganda
Read an illustrated transcript of Milton Glaser's keynote address to a symposium on propaganda held in 2008, in which he muses on the purpose of art. Glaser, a celebrated graphic designer whose work is represented in major museums around...
NPR: National Public Radio
Npr: Intersections: Inspiration and Creativity
Where does artistic inspiration come from? A series on NPR about the influence of artists on other artists helps to answer the question. Inspiration and creativity are shown to flow from an intense study of work of others.