Art is good for your health? Allow me a quick eyeroll | Emma Brockes
Some now suggest a monthly dose of art can boost wellbeing. But the last thing we need is another item on our to-do lists As the long autumn subsides and we finally head into winter, so we hit that point in the calendar when two rival theories of seasonal survival play out: one, the permission-giving invitation to give up and power down, encapsulated by Scandinavian hygge and Katherine May’s 2020…
Some individuals now claim that regular exposure to art could enhance one's wellbeing, but it seems unnecessary to add another task to our to-do lists. As autumn draws to a close and winter approaches, two opposing theories on how to cope with the season emerge: one is the Scandinavian hygge approach that encourages relaxation, while the other pushes us to endure discomfort and venture out.
This latest effort to motivate people to be more active comes from Art Fund, an arts charity that proposes a recommended daily allowance (RDA) of 60 minutes for engaging with art. According to Daisy Fancourt, a professor at University College London and author of the report, this simple adjustment could help improve mental and physical health, alongside a balanced diet, regular exercise, and time spent outdoors.
While promoting the idea of art as a means to improve health certainly has its merits, the report's approach to selling it may feel a bit forced. By emphasizing the scientific backing of the recommendation, Art Fund is trying to appease those who are hesitant to engage with art, but the method used to do so may come across as insincere and overly calculated.
It's essential to remember that the value of experiencing art lies in the momentary enjoyment and pleasure it provides, rather than being reduced to a chore or a checklist item. While the notion that art can be beneficial to our overall health is not entirely unfounded, the idea of quantifying its impact may detract from the pure enjoyment of the experience.
Written by urgent.news from Guardian Health's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
