1. The Social Function of Art. A Comparative Study of the Tale "El Canto de la Cigarra" ("The Song of the Cicada") by Onelio Jorge Cardoso and the Aesop Fable, "The Ants and the Grasshopper".
- Author
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Spathi, Aglaía
- Subjects
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CICADAS , *ANIMAL communities , *FABLES , *SOCIAL skills , *GRASSHOPPERS , *AESTHETICS , *ANTS , *GERMAN philosophy - Abstract
Objective: To highlight the power of art to transform an individual's ethical behavior and support them in their struggle against unjust power, through the study of the story "El Canto De La Cigarra" ("The Song of the Cicada") by Cuban author Onelio Jorge Cardoso (1914-1986) and the fable "The Ants and the Grasshopper" by the Greek fabulist Aesop (6th century B.C.). Methodology: The starting point was a historical journey through Platonic, Pythagorean, Aristotelian, and Cynic philosophy, as well as the philosophy of the German philosopher Schopenhauer, regarding the ability of art to mitigate humanity's pain and appease its passions. Emphasizing that in the story "The Song of the Cicada," the Cuban writer emphasizes the relationship between art and power and illustrates the creation of a healthy and constructive society through aesthetic cultivation, a comparative study was conducted of this story with the fable "The Ants and the Grasshopper" by Aesop. Both authors use the world of animals as a microcosm of the human community. Results: The social importance of the artist and their work was demonstrated. Although not immediately evident, the usefulness of this importance can lead to the moral improvement of the entire community, fostering a solidary and anti-dogmatic future. Conclusions: Through the allegorical paradigm of the animal community, it becomes clear that art introduces perfection and ethical beauty into society. Hence, in a world in full social crisis, the artist, through his work, manages to topple the powerful from their thrones, exalting the most humiliated and creating an ideal world. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
- Published
- 2024
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