Theater has always served a social purpose. Springing from the need to communicate expressively, theater has provided society with a unique way of examining its condition, its fears, hopes, dreams, and aspirations. The content of theater extends to theater-derived media, film, and television and its prominence in the daily life of politics, commerce, and leisure. Because theater in its varied forms is an artistic blending of all the arts, it has unusual power to inform and instruct as it entertains. Understanding its content and how that content affects the quality of life is essential to an informed citizenry. Theater, therefore, challenges the members of society to examine life's experiences and to share intellectually and emotionally.

The arts are a fundamental part of human culture and identity, shaping every individual and society. They contribute to our economy and provide meaning to our lives through music, sculptures, dance, animations, and plays. Recognizing the value of the arts, it is important to provide a well-rounded education that includes arts for all students. The National Core Arts Standards aim to define artistic literacy, including philosophical foundations, lifelong goals, artistic processes, and performance standards.