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8. “Art is a lie that brings us nearer to the truth” (Pablo

Picasso). Evaluate this claim in relation to a specific art form
(for example, visual arts, literature, theatre).

The definition, impression and formation of truth are based upon the

events and activities that human beings react towards. It can be

said that truth is found under the many different forms expressed

by an individual, especially within the area of arts. Picasso’s claim,

art is a lie that brings us nearer to the truth, appropriately identifies

the knowledge issue, exploring arts’ ability to express the truth

under the many visual conditions. In this case, the knowledge issue

that revolves around this statement is simply, whether arts can

present truth about human nature. Within the developing world, film

and television is one of the world’s most valuable cultural

resources1, as it enables the population to reminiscence a nation’s

history and also allowing International Baccalaureate students to

critique upon its plot, themes and intentions. With this in

consideration, Picasso’s claim will be evaluated around film and

television and its role in popular culture; it must be taken into

account that what holds true within this essay will not necessarily be

the same for another form of art.

Oscar Wilde once stated that art expresses itself; containing its own

perfection and never tells the truth - “lying, the telling of beautiful

1
"The Economic Contribution of Motion Picture & Television Industry to the United
States." Motion
Picutre Association of America. N.p., 2010. Web. 13 May 2010. <
http://mpaa.org/Resources/
9a9957f1-9d19-4436-98c4-d1b526cb456c.pdf>.

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untrue things, is the proper aim of art”2. Considering this, art is to

create a new reality, may it be through lies, to challenge our views

of the current society. Thus, at a basic level, art challenges the

assumptions made and provokes different perspectives to the

audience; contributing depth to our experience of the world.

Picasso’s statement commends this notion, implying that an

artwork, whatever it may be, never-endlessly challenges the

audience. Ultimately, at some point, reaches truth – assuming that

the truth is already provided for us to understand.

Our perception of ‘truth’ is limited, as it is filtered by prejudices,

personal desires, cultural differences and individual experiences (via

our ways of knowing), consequently, creating a mere understanding

of what is known to be true. For example, The Matrix, a well-known

and controversial movie questions reality and its truth – one of the

legendary quotes from The Matrix is “What is real? How do you

define ‘real’?”3 This dialogue has made many people, including me,

wonder and challenge the possible truth among the social and

physical reality, subsequently, has led the movie’s claims of truth

more abstract. Furthermore, it has successfully illustrated the

abstraction within the realm of truth and lies.

2
Chandler, Otis Y. "Quote by Oscar Wilde." GoodReads. N.p., 2010. Web. 6 June
2010. http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/show/182464>.
3
The Matrix. Wachowski Brothers. Warner Bros. Pictures, 1999. Film.

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Picasso’s statement is also another representation of Lucilio Vanini’s

paradox: ‘perfectio propter imperfectionem’4 – that the greatest

perfection is imperfection. Here Vanini draws a tangent to Picasso’s

claim, concerning the notion where the greatest truth is a lie. An

example that commends this notion is Quentin Tarantino’s war film,

Inglourious Basterds. The film is a fictional movie that brings the

audience to understand the conflict between Nazis and and

European Jews. It is conspicuously historically inaccurate, due to

Adolf Hitler’s murder in a cinema and various integrated scenes;

however it conveys the true emotions of both parties5. Therefore, it

can be postulated that Inglourious Basterds is a lie that brings us

nearer to a subjective truth. Emotions, as a way of knowing, plays a

part in evaluating and justifying Picasso’s statement concerning the

biased emotions and attempts to rationalise pre-existing prejudices.

These emotions invade our perception and lead the audience to only

perceive a certain perspective.

The truth in Picasso’s statement can be interpreted in various ways.

Firstly, one is the truth to our society and its pressing controversial

issues within our community. The Simpsons, a satirical parody is set

within a fictional city, Springfield, and surrounds the life of an unreal

family. For example, The Simpsons’ 30 minutes over Tokyo

illustrates the controversial issue of television entertainment

4
McElroy, Wendy. "The perfectibility of man." WendyMcElroy. N.p., 11 May 2010.
Web. 6 June 2010. <http://www.wendymcelroy.com/print.php?news.3264>.
5
Inglourious Basterds. Quentin Tarantino. Universal Pictures and The Weinstein
Company, 2009. Film.

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directed at children6. Throughout the television series, it constantly

comments on the political nature and controversial issues related to

the field of education and business as well as the state of the

environment. The underlying global issues are subtly integrated

within the television sitcom, the perception among these issues

immediately provoke one to reason and justify these ideas.

Reasoning, an important way of knowing allows the audience to

conclude a specific point from assumptions of the world. The critical

response to film and television, particularly in The Simpsons,

enables the audience to use deductive reasoning and inductive

reasoning to bring one closer to a potential truth.

Films that are based upon ‘facts’, such as daily news reports (both

political and entertainment), demonstrate the concept as a lie that

brings us nearer to the truth. This is postulated because they have

strong truth-claims, backed up by interpretations of evidence. Films

have the possibility to be generalised, fictionalised and exaggerated

– however, if it is able to bring the audience understand or consider

the society and intentions, the film has successfully brought the

viewer nearer to the correspondence truth. However, the evident

counter-claim is the revealing of certain perspectives and the bias

on reports. For example, the British Broadcasting Corporation

claimed that the Lebanese town has been wiped out including a

footage illustrating an area extensively damaged. However, Channel

6
"30 Minutes Over Tokyo." The Simpsons: Season 10. 20th Century Fox Television
and Gracie Films. 16 May 1999. Television.

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4 showed a different perspective that the outskirts and suburbs

were pretty much untouched by the invasion, accompanied by a

footage filmed on the same day7. Evidently, two channels are able

to show two different perspectives of the same event on the same

day, ultimately revealing the bias on reports. Our perception

towards truth and lies are subjective, bias and stereotypes are

constantly illustrated within our society.

Subsequently, it can be said that ‘truth’ is a mere interpretation,

creating a simple understanding of what is known to be true. The

cultural differences allows a large audience to interpret differently,

therefore as socialised human figures brought up in a particular

environment, everyone perceives a specific art form differently. In

addition, our perception is limited, prison of consistency occurs as

our thoughts and perception are stuck to individual experiences and

moods. Subsequently, the perception of truth and lie within a

specific film will vary due to personal and selective truths.

The counterclaim to Picasso’s statement can be interpreted in two

ways; art is a lie that doesn’t bring us nearer to the truth, or, art is a

truth that brings us nearer to the lie. Advertisements (that are

visually appealing) are able to illustrate; art is a truth that brings us

nearer to the lie, through television. Television advertising, a

7
Craven, Nick. "BBC accused of anti-Israeli bias." Mail on Sunday. N.p., 17 Aug.
2006. Web. 15 June 2010. <http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/article-
401060/BBC-accused-anti-Israeli-bias.html>.

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popular marketing strategy within the 21st century brings the

audience away from truth. Language, a way of knowing, used in

films are filled with connotations that exaggerate and morph certain

points. Although truth within the realm of arts is subjective, it can be

suggested that advertisements is the counter-claim to Picasso’s

statement, as it intends to convey the pragmatic truth yet conceals

the negative points and thus telling a white lie.

Pokémon is also another example that counter-claims to Picasso’s

statement, the fantastical anime do not possess any true events or

intentions behind. In addition it does not bring the audience

(targeted towards children) nearer to the truth that they understand

of. Language plays a significant role within this film, taking into

account that Pokémon originally was broadcasted in Japanese; the

translation from Japanese to English or to any other language will

change its initial meaning. This is postulated because a phrase is

able to hold many interpertations and connotations – thus translated

films may not be able to express its true meaning. Therefore, it can

be proposed that Pokémon is a form of art that lies and doesn’t

bring the audience nearer to the truth; holds entertainment value

and demonstrates the archtypal example of good and bad.

The analysis of film from various cultures implies the notion where

art may illustrate the truth or lie – however, not one of these films

demonstrate one general truth or lie. Therefore, it can be said that

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truth and the lie is a subjective matter, in which allows the audience

to analyse it differently. Picasso’s assertion is strong in a way that

allows the audience to connect truth towards many forms of art, on

contrary; the statement is too broad and unlimited; therefore, art is

a lie that brings us nearer to the truth can be considered to be a

weak statement. Therefore, it can be postulated that the arts are

unable to truly present truth about human nature. Taking this into

account, it must be evaluated through the various ways of knowing

to question the intention of a specific art form. Using our own

experiences, reason, perception and emotion, truth can be found

within the realm of film and television. Subsequently, to a large

extent Picasso’s statement is up to various interpretations and leads

the audience to employ it as a tool in our search for truth.

Word Count: 1459

References:

"30 Minutes Over Tokyo." The Simpsons: Season 10. 20th Century
Fox Television and Gracie Films. 16 May 1999. Television.

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Chandler, Otis Y. "Quote by Oscar Wilde." GoodReads. N.p., 2010.

Web. 6 June 2010.
http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/show/182464>.

Craven, Nick. "BBC accused of anti-Israeli bias." Mail on Sunday.

N.p., 17 Aug. 2006. Web. 15 June 2010.
<http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/news/article-401060/BBC-accused-
anti-Israeli-bias.html>.

Inglourious Basterds. Quentin Tarantino. Universal Pictures and The

Weinstein Company, 2009. Film.

"The Economic Contribution of Motion Picture & Television Industry

to the United States." Motion
Picutre Association of America. N.p., 2010. Web. 13 May 2010. <
http://mpaa.org/Resources/
9a9957f1-9d19-4436-98c4-d1b526cb456c.pdf>.

The Matrix. Wachowski Brothers. Warner Bros. Pictures, 1999. Film.

McElroy, Wendy. "The perfectibility of man." WendyMcElroy. N.p., 11

May 2010. Web. 6 June 2010.
<http://www.wendymcelroy.com/print.php?news.3264>.