Role/part

[Rachel Adams]

Hello.
These are my sentences. I am not sure whether I should use 'role' or 'part'. I rephrased the first sentence. I think the second sentence is better.

1. 'What is the major role of art in the society today?'

2. 'What part does art play in today's society?'

 

[emsr2d2]

Remove "major" and the second "the" from sentence #1 and they're both OK, and mean roughly the same.

 

[Rachel Adams]

Remove "major" and the second "the" from sentence #1 and they're both OK, and mean roughly the same.

If I don't use an adjective in my sentence is it wrong to use an article before 'part' or 'role'? For example, 'It has always played a part/role in people's life' (talking about art).

 

[Tarheel]

I suppose. But I would say people's lives.