Art can be practiced for its own sake, separate from society, by seeing the beautiful world despite the world's dark issues. It is practicing art as a form of personal expression. In this way, it gives people hope that there is life outside of these social issues.

2. Why is it detrimental to believe that art is a form of escape?

According to Lopez, it is detrimental to believe that art is a form of escape because it loses its power to look at societal issues. It breaks its ability to transform, critique, and confront society. To Lopez, making art for your own such as in the pursuit of beauty, form, or personal expression is an act of using art as an "escapism." He argues that it is self-indulgent and it isolates art from its essential role in addressing social issues.

3. Why is it important for art to address the “problems of [the artist’s] time”?

It is important to address the "problems of (the artist's) time" because it is the medium through which the harsh realities of life such as sufferings and injustices can be revealed and challenged. When art is used in this way, it becomes a powerful tool for social transformation. Instead of using art for merely one's sake, it can address contemporary issues and it has the potential to call out, educate, mobilize, and inspire the viewers or readers.

4. What does Lopez mean when he said that writers and artists should be “teachers of men”?

What he meant when he said that writers and artists should be "teachers of men" is that they should recognize that writing or creating art is beyond creating for aesthetically pleasing works or for their own's sake. What Lopez meant by "teachers" is that writers and artists should use art to educate, enlighten, and invoke. Through this, art is used to help elevate public consciousness about social issues, which then, contribute to social progress.

5. Why does Lopez think that the highest form of art is emancipatory?

Emancipatory is the highest form of art because it transcends aesthetic pleasure. It confronts social realities which challenge the viewers to face the uncomfortable truths about our society. Through this, art is a catalyst for change, serving a higher function.

In Arcane, the characters are in a divided universe where the oppressed, impoverished undercity of Zaun stands in sharp contrast to the wealthy, high-tech city of Piltover.  Economic inequality, corruption, and exploitation are explored in the series which shows how the privileged take advantage of chances and resources at the expense of the weak. Wealth against poverty is the dichotomy that highlights the human cost of systematic injustice and reflects societal divisions in our actual world.

Moving on, my favorite episode from the series is Episode 4 of Season 1, titled, "Happy Progress Day." In this episode, the dominant ideology is the celebration of progress, change, order, and improvement of technology. The episode's narrative underpins Piltover's image as a "beacon of civilization." The celebration in the episode advances the notion that progress is both inevitable and natural. This ideology, which is closely tied to the interests of the elite, serves to legitimize the existing social classes that we have.

So, how does the dominant ideology being presented? The episode revolves around a public celebration that, at first glance, seems to bring Piltover's residents together in a shared vision of progress, hence, "Happy Progress Day." In relation to Althusserian's article, the episode is comparable to Ideological State Apparatuses (ISA), which are institutions and practices such as the media, education, and public rituals that produce and uphold the dominant ideology. The purpose of the celebration is to "hail" the citizens, encouraging them to perceive themselves as members of a civilized and progressive society. Although the celebration conveys a sense of progress and unity, it also hides the exploitation and inequality that exist, most notably, the sharp contrast with Zaun, the undercity. This is similar to Althusser's argument that ideology works by normalizing the social order; in this case, the prevailing ideology obscures structural issues.

Rewatching the episode, made me realize that in the episode, the celebration of Progress Day not only commemorates technological advances but also suggests that upholding this goal is morally required if you're a citizen of Piltover. Piltover's residents are urged to think that prosperity comes directly from following the suggested path for progress. This ideology is essential to maintaining social order because it dissuades serious inquiry into the true costs of progress by portraying the ruling elite as the "guardians of progress." In this lens, I saw how the episode really portray the ruling class in our society.