The role of the arts in colonial American society

Colonial Society Arts

The colonial society built on existing realities, the most important one being the church. Less than the authoritative church from Europe, the church in the colonies was more represented by its minister, who had a coagulating and highly academic and educational role. In many cases, these academies, for example, were formed through "young men attaching themselves to the household of a minister" (Harrell, 2005, page 107).

This usually was a combination of both economic factors (the house of the minister could have rooms rented out to pupils) and educational, as the minister would also gain an additional income through tutoring. This type of system also encouraged the private educational system that would strive in later centuries: no taxes were used for the educational system in the colonies, everything being more or less based on the human factor and private initiative.

The arts in general can be seen as a positive contribution to the development of colonial society. First of all, the arts also had a coagulating effect, much like the educational system previously discussed. Shows, literary creations and cultural events would bring people together in the same geographical location. At the same time, arts produced a rolling effect by which a new art product would encourage new artists to work and propose their pieces as well, all towards a substantial development of the artistic environment in the colonies. Despite the focus on agricultural and economic life, the arts became more significantly a part of the colonists' way of life.