Hello all. I would appreciate if you could grade my SAT essay, and give me appropriate and candid feedback that I can learn from, and utilize in the future. Here it is:
Prompt: Does a work of art have the power to change lives?
Works of art carry the ability to convey a deep and potent message, and change one’s perspective on a certain subject. The book, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” can be seen as an ideal example of this, as it was able to instigate anti-slavery tendencies amongst the audience. Similarly, the Renaissance, a socio-cultural movement that profoundly affected intellectual life in Europe, emerged from the dissemination of Greek texts and manuscripts in Europe. Finally, paintings, such as the Mona Lisa, that were made during the Renaissance, helped elevate the position of an artist in society.
The book, “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” by Harriet Beecher Stowe demonstrates how literature has the ability to influence the perspective of the masses and act as a social agent. It revolves around an enslaved African-American, Tom, who is brutally beaten and abused by his master. Through his concrete experiences, the sentimental novel attempts to illustrate the realities of slavery and demonstrate that the Christian faith can tackle and overcome slavery. The book, in the first year following its publication, sold 300,000 copies in the United States and over a million copies in Britain. It is widely considered to be one of the major factors that helped establish and consolidate the anti-slavery cause in the North.
Likewise, the mass exodus of Greek scholars to Europe, after the conquest of Constantinople in 1453, helped disseminate Greek texts across Europe. The works of literature helped bring Greek philosophies to Europe, which upheld humanism and promoted advancements made in art and the sciences. It was a dynamic period of change that involved many upheavals in the arts, in the process, teaching people to employ new and innovative means to tackle problems. These changes helped build the foundation of the Information Age and revolutionized the world.
Furthermore, the paintings that emerged from the Renaissance, such as the Mona Lisa, continue to influence us today. One of the most notable implications of these works of art was the elevation of the artist. Prior to the Renaissance, it was the patron of the art who was considered superior to the artist himself. However, the Renaissance changed this commonly held perception by portraying the artist as a skillsman who could convey emotions through his work. Artists were respected in society, and their work served as the basis for many consequent novels and movies.
As illustrated by the examples of “Uncle Tom’s Cabin” and the Renaissance, it is evident that art has the power to change people’s lives dynamically. These historical examples have helped us understand that art, although subtle, can instigate and influence many changes in society.
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Thank you!