What Is the Most “Useful Entertainment”? Art and Theatre
Why do the fine arts never leave our lives? We explore the branches of art and the impact on children of theatre, which Namık Kemal called the most useful entertainment.
When the fine arts are mentioned, painting, music and cinema come to mind at once. But what are the fine arts, into how many branches do they divide, and why, often without realising it, can we not remove them from our lives? In this article, we explore the branches of art and, in particular, the impact of theatre on children and young people.
The Three Branches of the Fine Arts
The Fine Arts Divide Into Three
Phonetic
Auditory: music and literature (especially poetry).
Plastic
Visual: painting, sculpture, architecture, calligraphy, illumination.
Dramatic
Stage: cinema, opera, ballet, theatre.
Although literature may at first seem to lie outside the fine arts, together with music it belongs to the phonetic branch. Ahmet Haşim's words capture this beautifully: "Poetry is a language between music and speech, yet far closer to music than to speech." While the plastic arts carry us with their colours and forms from one world into another, the dramatic arts add movement to the visual and the auditory.
The Most Useful Entertainment: Theatre
Today cinema has often turned into a commodity of consumption, while quality productions have withdrawn to special halls and festivals. As genres such as opera and ballet fall behind because of prejudice and difficulty of access, one powerful art that young people can easily reach and enjoy comes to the fore: theatre. When Namık Kemal saw that in Europe theatre was not merely entertainment but an institution that raised the cultural level of the people, he attached great importance to it. For him, theatre was "the most useful entertainment", almost a "school of morals and language".
For young people who draw a sharp line between learning and having fun, theatre, which teaches while it entertains, is an invaluable opportunity.
Its Impact on Children and Young People
Seeing live actors in the theatre, combined with gesture, expression, set design and a well-chosen play, creates powerful effects on children and young people. As subtle messages are conveyed sometimes by making us laugh and sometimes by making us think, the audience is drawn into the play without even noticing. Beyond a pleasant time, the scenes that stay in the mind and the emotions that are felt leave an indescribable mark.
In brief
- The fine arts divide into three branches: phonetic, plastic and dramatic.
- Theatre is an art that young people can easily reach and learn from while enjoying it.
- In Namık Kemal's words, theatre is "the most useful entertainment".
You can see our students' art activities on our Activities page or get in touch with us.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is literature considered one of the fine arts?
Literature, especially through poetry, is close to sound and music; for this reason it belongs to the phonetic branch of the fine arts.
How do I introduce my child to theatre?
Begin with a well-chosen play suited to their age and interests. The live stage experience awakens a lasting curiosity in most children.
Gökkuşağı Koleji · Art that teaches while it entertains.