It has been more than two decades since humans have realized the importance of conserving the environment to benefit from its natural resources. Gradually, after indications of prominent threats appeared as a result of misusing natural resources, significant steps began to be taken towards the conservation of the environmeAt the beginning of the 20th century alongside the formation of newly organized syndicates and unions the organizations of environmental awareness were also founded. Simultaneously, artists and musicians through their professions began to raise awareness on environmental conservation.
In fact, prior to the formation of these syndicates and unions, artists used their expertise to raise environmental awareness, e.g. George Pope Morris’s song “Woodman spare that tree” which was produced during the classical period of music in the beginning of the 19th century.
The works of art during the classical period characterized the beauty, importance and inspiration drawn from nature and the environment or they described the devastating impact on the environment of a territory during wars.
After world war two, namely during the 1960s, the term “environmental music” sprung up, and was described as an essential component of Environmental Education, in demonstrating the ethics of environmental conservation following the discovery of inadequate human activities on the environment and animals.
Presently, the world is about to reach the point of no return in preventing the damaging consequences of overusing and misusing natural resources. This is why I believe, now is the time that artists should take the lead in conserving the environment and across the entire spectrum of life, such as (culture, art forms, heritage, educational seminars/lectures, etc.) as artists, in general have a different vision, filled with life loving, solidarity, love and peace.
Artists through their profession are able to communicate effective messages to people; I would like to present a few of the philosophical processes that I have undergone when producing my songs and music when forming a desired message that can be reused when creating an artistic product for environmental education:
1- Define the audience and direction of the massage:
The intended message needs to be defined according the targeted audience for example, is the message targeted towards children or adults? If the target audience are children, the message must be straightforward, take an informative and educational style. If the target audience are adults, the message delivered must evoke the feelings that they do not realize they possess.
On occasions, the social circumstances must be reflected in delivering the desired message.
For instance, if there is a financial crisis during the formation of the desired message, it is important to ask oneself “how can I evoke the emotions of the audience towards the direction of my message?” This requires a lot of experience in reading into the psychological and intellectual perceptions of the public during that specific social circumstances.
2- Reality or Fiction:
Generally speaking, it is better for the desired message to be reflective of the realities of everyday life, in order to attain the targeted goal(s) of the desired message.
In the event of selecting a fictitious message, it must be inspired by a past or futuristic concept since human nature alters the logical concepts into reality that social circumstances create. As it is said “Human nature is to forget easily”.
That is why when an artist decides to undertake works of art, the Artist must consider the core logical concepts and how many of these concepts have been forgotten in order to mix the desired message with real-life facts and distribute the message to the public “you must understand the rules in order to break them”.
3- Do not be instructive:
It is more convenient for the message to avoid taking an instructive tone, since adults generally do not think more advice is needed and end up resisting it.
Of course, there is far more to consider when setting the artistic framework. However, the above examples are just some of the points to be taking into consideration.
In this postmodern age, the changes are happening more rapidly than ever on the atmosphere, environment, forests, the ice poles, and mountains. As such, people from all nationalities, economic backgrounds, ethnicities and religious groups must act at the same pace the environment is changing , if not even faster, to preserve the environment. Amongst them artists must lead this ethical revolution, since they are the most influential group of people in the world.
Let it not be forgotten that humans do not own the natural resources of the world alone!
The way in which God has adorned the earth for us, we have also been placed with the responsibility to preserve it. Let us only think, if it is not earth, where can humans live? In the seas? In the skies?
