Think of the Renaissance. Breaking off from the iron grip of the Catholic Church and inventions allowing for less manual labor, people were capable of pursuing the arts in a way they never had before. Common people idolized some of the most famous artistic minds this world has seen- Shakespeare, Michelangelo, da Vinci, etc. These people could thrive in a world that truly valued the way they could think outside the box. Pyschologist Roger Sperry said this way of thinking depended on the right side of the brain.
When the Enlightenment came along, mathematicians and scientists (left-side brain thinkers) were the ones who thrived. Unlike in other epochs, people like Galileo and Newton could make valuable contributions. We see less artists in this time as we see logical thinkers. I think this can be attributed to two things.
1. People respond to being needed. We are more likely to reach our limits when people are relying on us. During the Renaissance, people needed a new, progressive way of thinking. During the Enlightenment, people needed mathematicians and scientists to build stronger nations.
2. People respond to being wanted. As certain skill sets were highly praised and considered elite, those who share those skills will be inspired to perform their best. They know that if they do so, they will be rewarded with love and support.
I think we live in a left-sided brain society today. We certainly focus on a business-like approach to life, and success is measured by a very linear path- high school, college (better if one's major is in something like business or science) and art, while it may be enjoyed, isn't exactly in the center of society. I hope we can form a society that can laud both types of thinkers equally, rather than diminish the one's value in favor of the other.
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I really like this way of articulating differences between these eras. It's true that much of what we do today seems to come from a left-sided part of the brain, but I also think the arts play a larger part than we would originally think. For example, we listen to music almost constantly and most of what we see on social media is a form of art--whether it's someone's post on Instagram or the design of a website. Many of those things required both sides in order to come about, but appealing art is critical in order to captivate the audience.
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